Gadi Eisenkot Denies Promising Arab Party Role in Future Government

Leaders of Bedouin municipalities in northern Israel claim that Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the "Yashar!" party, promised them he would include the Arab party Ra'am in the next government he leads. According to a report by Channel 12 News, Muaid Al-Hieb, head of the Tuba-Zangariyya local council, stated that Eisenkot told them during a meeting that he did not intend to include Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir in his government, and that he was in contact with Ra'am and would work to bring them into his future administration.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded on his X account, stating, "Don't say you didn't know: Eisenkot will form a left-wing government with Yair Golan, Liberman, and the Arab parties." Minister Yoav Kisch added that Eisenkot would "form a government with the support of the Muslim Brotherhood party." Minister Smotrich wrote that Eisenkot was "hiding the truth" by promising Ra'am a place in his government in private while presenting himself as right-wing publicly, warning that such a government would be "destructive to security, settlement, the Negev and the Galilee, and the Jewish identity of the state."

Yosef Haddad, a candidate for the "Am Israel" party, expressed outrage, questioning how anyone could consider forming a government with those who refuse to label Hamas a terrorist organization after the October 7th attacks. The "Yashar!" party vehemently denied the report, calling it "a lie and falsehood" and stating that the claims were "never said, not even by implication." The party reiterated its clear stance that partnership in government would only be possible with parties that adhere to three core principles: recognizing the Declaration of Independence, acknowledging Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, and serving all citizens. They also emphasized that parties not recognizing Hamas as a terrorist organization to be destroyed by Israel would not be part of any government they form.