Left-Wing Activist Calls for Government With Arab Parties

Following the recent election results, which have left the political system in uncertainty with neither bloc holding a clear majority for a Zionist government, left-wing activist Yariv Oppenheimer advocates for a government supported by Arab parties. Oppenheimer, formerly the secretary-general, CEO, and spokesperson for Peace Now and currently on its board and managing the Two-State Solution Initiative at the Geneva Initiative, stated that he openly seeks a coalition that would include parties led by Ahmad Tibi, Mansour Abbas, and Yasser Houjirat.

Oppenheimer commented on the election outcomes, noting that while he had hoped for better results, they were not entirely bad. He observed that Netanyahu and his bloc lost votes while the left gained strength. "Anyone who thought there would be a collapse was probably living in la-la land," he said, acknowledging Netanyahu's resilience but emphasizing that he lost the election and lacks a Knesset majority.

He expressed strong reservations about sitting under Netanyahu's leadership, characterizing it as a "betrayal of the voters' will." Oppenheimer elaborated that Netanyahu's proposal is always to be prime minister, potentially in rotation, without respecting agreements and treating coalition partners as subordinates.

When asked about preferring support from Arab party leaders like Ahmad Tibi, Yosef Jabareen, and Yasser Houjirat over coalition partners from Likud and the Religious Zionism party, Oppenheimer stated his preference for a "coalition of coexistence, peace, and equality" over parties he believes are based on "racism, abandonment of the Arab society, and endless wars."

Oppenheimer also referenced election promises, specifically citing the politician's pledge to prevent the "massacre coalition" from continuing. He questioned the rationale for allowing this coalition to continue for more years when they had lost the election.