Eisenkot calls for respect of Israel's Arab minority amid Netanyahu's criticism

Prime ministerial hopeful Gadi Eisenkot appealed on Friday for respect toward Israel's Arab minority after caretaker premier Benjamin Netanyahu and other right-wing politicians sought to delegitimize Arab lawmakers by associating them with Hamas. The two Arab-majority parties, Raam and the Joint List, together won 19 seats in the recent election, roughly one-sixth of the 120-member Knesset, and could become pivotal in coalition talks.

Eisenkot posted on X, "Arab citizens of Israel are an integral part of the Israeli story," adding that attempts to marginalize and vilify the community "violate the principles of civic responsibility" and dishonor Israel's Declaration of Independence and its democratic values.

Netanyahu and his allies have repeatedly criticized Arab party leaders for not labeling Hamas as a "terror group" after the October 7, 2023 attack. All Arab party leaders have condemned the attack, and electoral authorities have dismissed Netanyahu's allegations of fraud by Arab-majority parties.

At the opening of the new parliament, Netanyahu claimed the Arab lists refuse to recognize Israel as a Jewish state and suggested they aim to establish an "Islamic state" or a "nationalist Palestinian state." During the same ceremony, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir interrupted Joint List leader Youssef Jabareen, accusing him of pledging allegiance to Hamas.

"It is entirely legitimate to disagree with representatives of the Arab parties, even to strongly disapprove of some of them. But it is neither legitimate nor acceptable to malign an entire community, and I will not allow it," Eisenkot said.

President Isaac Herzog tasked Eisenkot with forming a new government after consultations in which a majority of parties, including the two Arab lists, recommended him. However, right-wing ally Avigdor Liberman warned he would withdraw from any coalition that includes Israeli-Arab parties. Eisenkot has 28 days to build a coalition, with a possible 14-day extension before the mandate would pass to another lawmaker, likely Netanyahu.