Gadi Eisenkot Rules Out Ra'am Party From Next Government

Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the National Unity party, stated explicitly on Saturday evening that the Ra'am party will not be part of the next government unless its coalition demands are met. This declaration follows controversy surrounding the possibility of Ra'am joining a government led by Eisenkot.

During an interview on Channel 12's "Meet the Press," Eisenkot was asked directly about Ra'am's inclusion. "Since they do not accept the three rules, including the rule of recognizing Hamas as a terrorist organization that must be destroyed, they will not be part of the next government," he responded. This comes about a week and a half after Bedouin mayors claimed Eisenkot had promised to include Ra'am in his government, a claim National Unity vehemently denied, calling it "an absolute lie." A recording later emerged from the meeting that did not contain such a promise from Eisenkot.

Eisenkot also discussed the opposition bloc's efforts to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, aiming for 63-65 seats. He expressed confidence that if National Unity becomes the largest party in the bloc, Naftali Bennett would recommend him for prime minister. He reiterated his party's ethical code, requiring members to return their mandates if they fundamentally disagree with the party's direction, citing his own resignation from the Knesset after parting ways with Benny Gantz as an example.

The interview also touched upon Netanyahu's conduct in the initial days following the October 7th attack. Eisenkot described Netanyahu on October 11th as appearing "like a leaf in the wind," barely speaking or leading discussions, and seeming "completely stunned." Eisenkot contrasted this with Netanyahu's current portrayal of himself as a stable leader during that period, stating, "Today he is a great hero and recounts how everyone was shocked and he was stable. The truth was completely different."

Regarding the transfer of Qatari funds to Gaza during his tenure as IDF Chief of Staff, Eisenkot clarified that only one transfer occurred under his watch, subject to a control mechanism, and argued it shouldn't be compared to subsequent policies. He also revealed a Mossad-devised plan to trap and eliminate thousands of Hezbollah operatives in Lebanon, a plan he pushed Netanyahu to implement when the southern front became stalled. Eisenkot stated he was unaware of specific communication devices at the time but knew of radios, and that a larger plan he advocated for was not pursued by Netanyahu.

Eisenkot addressed criticism regarding his English proficiency, dismissing attempts to portray him as unable to represent Israel internationally. He concluded by framing the upcoming elections not as a left-right divide but as a contest over Israel's identity, advocating for a "Jewish, liberal, strong" nation that is part of the community of nations and a source of pride for Israelis and world Jewry. He expressed certainty of a decisive victory within a month.