Yair Golan Seeks Government With Arab Party; Lieberman Rejects
Translated & summarized from JDN by baba
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Yair Golan wants to form a government with the Arab party Ra'am.
- Avigdor Lieberman strongly opposes any coalition with Arab parties.
- The Likud party accused Golan of planning a left-wing government with Arab parties.
- Beni Gantz agreed Golan revealed the opposition's plan for a narrow government.
- Other politicians warned of dangerous outcomes from such a coalition.
Yair Golan, chairman of the Democrats party, stated on Saturday evening that he would work to persuade his partners in the "camp" to form a government that includes the Arab party Ra'am. Golan cited Mansour Abbas as a good partner in the previous government and suggested that election rhetoric differs from practical considerations, stating, "For me, the choice is easy." He also addressed commitments made by other politicians not to sit with Abbas, suggesting such statements are typical before elections to appeal to voters.
Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of Yisrael Beiteinu, vehemently rejected Golan's proposal, reiterating his stance that "no coalition will be formed with the Arab parties." Lieberman suggested Golan's comments were a desperate attempt to regain support among Arab voters after his vote to disqualify Balad chairman Sami Abu Shehadeh, claiming Golan had lost support in the Arab street.
The Likud party responded by accusing Golan and his partner Gadi Eisenkot of intending to form a "left-wing government with Arab parties," framing the election as a choice between "right-wing or Palestine." They asserted that only the Likud could prevent such a coalition.
Beni Gantz commented that Golan was speaking the truth about the opposition's plan to form another "narrow government relying on Arab parties," calling it a potential "disaster" that could only be averted by a broad, cross-bloc Zionist government.
Almog Cohen criticized Golan, calling him an "Islamist hugger" and accusing him of revealing a "secret of the Muslim Brotherhood government" by proposing a coalition with parties supporting terrorism. He echoed the "right-wing or Palestine" sentiment.
The "Am Yisrael" party, led by Ofer Winter, stated that the choice was between Golan's proposed government and Winter serving as Defense Minister for a decisive outcome.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich warned that Golan, Eisenkot, and Lieberman would form a "dangerous government" in partnership with Arab parties. He claimed this government would perpetuate judicial overreach, evacuate settlements, and harm Israel's Jewish identity, urging that it must be prevented.
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