Arab Mayor Details Meeting with Gadi Eisenkot on Coalition, Housing

Muwid al-Hayb, the mayor of the Bedouin town Touba-Zangariyya, revealed new details from a meeting with Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the National Unity party. Al-Hayb stated in an interview that he heard from sources close to both sides that contacts are underway between Eisenkot and the Ra'am party, though he personally does not know this for sure and Eisenkot did not confirm it. Al-Hayb also clarified that during the meeting, he personally asked Eisenkot to consider including Ra'am in a future government, a request Eisenkot did not reject.

Al-Hayb emphasized that his request to consider Ra'am's inclusion was made publicly during the meeting with Eisenkot and other Bedouin local authority heads, not in private. He described Eisenkot's response as not explicitly promising but also not ruling out the possibility, contrary to earlier reports of a firm commitment. Al-Hayb also stated that while the eight Bedouin mayors did not offer an absolute commitment to support Eisenkot's National Unity party, they would support his efforts to form a government if tasked with it, leaning towards the center-left bloc.

During the meeting, the mayors also presented Eisenkot with demands concerning the Bedouin community in northern Israel, including issues of crime, budget shortages, planning, and construction. Al-Hayb specifically requested a three-year freeze on demolition orders for homes, coupled with efforts to regulate land use and usage fees. He asserted that Eisenkot unequivocally agreed to this proposal regarding the demolition orders.