Likud Accuses Yair Golan, Gadi Eisenkot of Planning Arab Party Coalition

The Likud party intensified its criticism of Yair Golan and Gadi Eisenkot, following Golan's remarks about the potential inclusion of Arab parties in a future government. Likud claims Golan's statements confirm their assertion that the "change bloc" intends to form a coalition with Arab parties, framing the upcoming election as a choice between continued right-wing rule and a government involving Arab parties. The party has made the issue of partnership with Ra'am and other Arab parties a central theme of its election campaign.

Likud stated that Golan "revealed the truth" about the political plans of Eisenkot and his allies, linking Eisenkot, Golan, Avigdor Lieberman, Naftali Bennett, and Arab parties as a potential post-election coalition. The party aims to focus the election on the question of which government will be formed, arguing that a strengthened change bloc could lead to a government relying on support or partnership from Arab parties. This sharp rhetoric positions the election as a choice between a right-wing government and one that includes Arab parties, a clear campaign message designed to differentiate Likud from its rivals.

Golan has recently expressed a more open stance on the participation of Arab parties in governing, opposing their blanket disqualification and emphasizing the rights of Arab citizens of Israel to participate in leadership. He has even suggested that including Ra'am in a government is a legitimate possibility for him, providing Likud with material for its campaign portraying the change bloc as needing Arab party support to form a government.

In contrast, Gadi Eisenkot has presented a more nuanced position, clarifying that Ra'am would not be part of the next government unless it meets certain conditions, including recognizing Hamas as a terrorist organization. This creates a discrepancy between Likud's portrayal of the change bloc and the public statements of its leaders. While Golan leaves more room for cooperation with Arab parties, Eisenkot and Lieberman have expressed more reserved or opposing views. Lieberman has explicitly stated that including Arab Knesset members in the coalition is unacceptable, contradicting Likud's claim that all change bloc leaders are set on a joint government with Arab parties.

Despite these differing stances within the change bloc, Likud continues to exert political pressure, arguing that even if some leaders currently distance themselves from such a partnership, the distribution of mandates might eventually force them to seek Arab support. The issue of partnership with Arab parties has become a key focus of Likud's campaign in the past month, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously claiming Eisenkot would struggle to form a government without support from Ra'am and the Joint List. Likud views this as a potential weakness for their opponents and a decisive issue for right-wing and undecided voters.

The change bloc, however, argues that Likud is attempting to present a unified image where diverse positions actually exist. As election day approaches, the issue of Ra'am and Arab parties is expected to remain at the heart of the conflict between the camps. Golan's open approach, Eisenkot's conditional stance, and Lieberman's clear opposition are all being framed by Likud as part of a single scenario of a joint government. The debate extends beyond who will form the next government to which parties are considered legitimate partners in its formation, a debate likely to intensify as the campaign progresses.