Eisenkot condemns Netanyahu over alleged racist campaign targeting Arab Israelis

Israeli defence minister Gadi Eisenkot said on X that caretaker prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies were running a "racist and aggressive campaign of delegitimisation" against Arab citizens of Israel. Eisenkot, a leading figure in the coalition-building process, described the effort to marginalise the community as a violation of civic responsibility.

Arab-majority parties Ra’am and the Joint List together won 19 seats in the recent election, roughly one-sixth of the Knesset, and could become pivotal in forming a government. Eisenkot emphasized that Arab citizens are "an integral part of the Israeli story" and warned against collective vilification.

Netanyahu has repeatedly criticised Arab parties for not labeling Hamas as a terror group and has alleged electoral fraud, claims that electoral authorities have dismissed. He also asserted that the parties aim to establish an "Islamic state" or a "nationalist Palestinian state," despite past statements by Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas recognising Israel as a Jewish state.

During a recent ceremony, national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir interrupted Joint List leader Yousef Jabareen, accusing him of pledging allegiance to Hamas. Eisenkot responded that while disagreement with Arab party representatives is legitimate, maligning an entire community is not.

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 Lieberman has warned he will withdraw from any coalition that includes Arab Israelis. Eisenkot has 28 days to assemble a coalition, with a possible 14-day extension before the mandate would revert, likely to Netanyahu.