MK's Mother Draws Red Line on Arab Party Coalition

Miriam Perez, mother of Knesset Member Elissef Perez from Gadi Eisenkot's Yisrael Beiteinu party, has declared that her son will resign from the Knesset if his party joins a government that includes an Arab party. She stated this in an interview with Kol Barama radio, also addressing the pressures her son faces regarding potential reliance on Arab parties for government support.

"He announced one thing publicly, stating that if his party sits with the Arabs, he will leave the Knesset. At least he is sticking to his values," Miriam Perez said. She expressed confidence that her son, Elissef, would make the right decision when faced with difficult choices that conflict with his upbringing and values, emphasizing that he represents not only himself but the nation.

Perez clarified the distinction between external support from Arab parties for legislation and government decisions versus direct participation in a government. She recalled that previous governments led by Benjamin Netanyahu had, at times, relied on external support from Arab parties. "I am talking about sitting in a government with an Arab party that will decide for me whether to defend, go to war, or provide soldiers with what they need, that will not happen," she stressed.

When asked about the possibility of her son switching to the right-wing bloc, Perez acknowledged the ongoing pressures on him since the start of his political career, particularly concerning the potential for Yisrael Beiteinu to form a government dependent on Arab parties. "The pressures have been applied from day one," she revealed, adding that these efforts continue, with unspecified actions being taken by various parties.