Gadi Eisenkot Rules Out Arab Party in Future Government

Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the "Yishai!" party, stated in a television interview that the United Arab List, led by Mansour Abbas, will not be part of any future government he forms. Eisenkot aims for his party to become the largest bloc in the upcoming elections, targeting 63 to 65 seats. He believes this success would lead potential coalition partners like Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Lieberman to recommend him for prime minister.

Eisenkot outlined four non-negotiable conditions for joining a coalition: maintaining a Jewish-democratic state, adhering to the Declaration of Independence, enforcing mandatory conscription, and recognizing Hamas as a terrorist organization. He asserted that no Arab or Haredi party currently meets these conditions, including Abbas's party, thus excluding them from his government.

He also introduced a "code of ethics" for his party members, requiring Knesset members to resign if they violate party decisions or electoral promises, aiming to combat political defections.

Eisenkot criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling him "out of touch" and responsible for fostering a culture of lying. He accused Netanyahu of ignoring serious security warnings before the October 7th attack, including a direct message from Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in mid-September. Eisenkot also condemned the previous government's policy of allowing Qatari funds to reach Hamas, deeming it a "betrayal" that warrants investigation.

Regarding the northern front, Eisenkot revealed proposals for extensive operations against Hezbollah, including planting explosives, which Netanyahu allegedly rejected for political reasons to prolong his time in power. Eisenkot concluded by rejecting the two-state solution as currently unrealistic and not accounting for the conflict's depth, emphasizing that the upcoming elections will define Israel as a "Jewish, liberal, and strong" nation.