Gadi Eisenkot Denies Promising Arab Party Role in Future Government

Leaders of Bedouin municipalities in northern Israel claim that Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the National Unity party, promised to include the Arab Ra'am party in a future government led by him. The claims emerged following a meeting between Eisenkot and several Bedouin local authority heads in Zarzir.

These leaders told N12 news that Eisenkot explicitly stated his intention to bring Ra'am into his government. The report initially noted that National Unity had not commented on the allegations, but the party later issued a strong denial.

The controversy follows an announcement by National Unity that eight Bedouin local authority leaders had expressed support for Eisenkot as prime minister during the meeting in Zarzir. Attendees included mayors from Zarzir, Basmat Tiv'on, Bir al-Maksur, Al-Batuf, Shibli-Umm al-Ghanam, Tuba-Zangaria, Bu'eine Nujeidat, and Ka'abiya-Tabbash.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded on social media, warning that Eisenkot would form a "left-wing government with Yair Golan, Liberman, and the Arab parties." Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana echoed this sentiment, stating, "Eisenkot has no government without the Muslim Brotherhood. This is not right-wing, it's not credible, and it's certainly not 'straightforward.'"

National Unity issued a firm rebuttal, calling the claims "a lie and falsehood" and stating, "The words were never said, not even by implication." The party reiterated its clear stance that any government coalition would only include parties adhering to three core principles: recognition of the Declaration of Independence, recognition of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, and service to all citizens. They further emphasized that parties not recognizing Hamas as a terrorist organization slated for destruction would not be part of their government.