Gadi Eisenkot Party Denies Pledging to Include Arab List in Coalition

The "Yish Atid" party, led by Gadi Eisenkot, issued a strong denial on Wednesday regarding a report by N12 alleging that Eisenkot promised to include the United Arab List in a future government headed by him. The report claimed two heads of Bedouin authorities in the north confirmed this promise made during a meeting the previous evening.

"Lies and slander. These things were never said, not even by implication," a statement from "Yish Atid" declared. The party outlined its conditions for coalition participation, stating that partnership would only be possible with parties committed to three core public principles: recognizing the values of the Declaration of Independence, acknowledging Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, and adherence to military service for all. "We also emphasized that parties that do not recognize Hamas as a terrorist organization that must be destroyed will not be part of the government we establish," the party added.

In response to the controversy, Yisrael Beiteinu party leader Avigdor Lieberman stated, "Read my lips, a government with the United Arab List will not be formed." Approximately two weeks prior, Mansour Abbas, head of the United Arab List, announced that a guaranteed spot would be given to former Yesh Atid member Yoav Segalovich on his list. Segalovich commented, "We will not change the past because it is a fact, the role of leadership is to change the reality."