Arab Parties Plan to Oust Netanyahu Government, Likud Responds

Joint List Chairman Ahmad Tibi revealed on Friday a detailed plan by Arab parties to help replace the Netanyahu government. Tibi stated in an interview on the program "Meet the Press" that Arab parties will work with the "Eisenkot bloc" immediately after the elections to replace the Knesset speaker and recommend the bloc's candidate for prime minister. "We will replace the Knesset speaker together with the Eisenkot bloc, we will recommend the bloc's candidate, and we will do even more than recommend to replace the Netanyahu government," Tibi said, emphasizing that "without the Arab parties, the government cannot be replaced."

The Likud party reacted sharply to Tibi's remarks, calling them a "media bomb." In a statement, Likud claimed Tibi was revealing a plan by Eisenkot, Liberman, and Yair Golan to form a left-wing government with Arab parties, adding, "A vote for Eisenkot and Liberman, and the keys to the country are in the hands of Ahmad Tibi and Mansour Abbas."

Recent polls indicate a close race between Likud and Gadi Eisenkot's "The Israelis" party, with some surveys showing Eisenkot's party as the largest. Meanwhile, center-left parties are engaged in pre-election discussions, including a recent meeting between Liberman and Bennett to discuss strategies for victory.

Tibi clarified that Arab parties see themselves as a decisive factor in replacing the current government, estimating their projected support at nine Knesset seats, making them significant in the overall mandate count.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has reportedly told associates that he does not intend to leave politics even if he fails to form a government, stating, "We will do everything to win, but if we don't win, I have no intention of leaving. I will serve as opposition leader and we will win the next elections."