Israeli Arab Parties, Ultra-Orthodox Discuss Potential Coalition Cooperation
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS French by baba
Arab parties Ra'am and the Joint List are in contact with United Torah Judaism, discussing potential cooperation during coalition formation talks led by Gadi Eisenkot. Mansour Abbas of Ra'am suggested engaging the Eisenkot bloc on yeshiva student conscription, while both Arab parties and UTJ are reportedly open to discussing the suspension of the Kaminitz law on illegal construction. Yaakov Asher of UTJ and Ahmad Tibi of the Joint List have met, though UTJ downplayed the political significance of their talks.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Arab parties Ra'am and Joint List are in talks with United Torah Judaism regarding coalition formation.
- Mansour Abbas suggested discussing yeshiva student conscription with Gadi Eisenkot's bloc.
- The Kaminitz law on illegal construction is another key topic of discussion.
- Yaakov Asher and Ahmad Tibi have met multiple times recently.
- United Torah Judaism downplayed the political significance of the discussions.
Regular behind-the-scenes discussions are occurring between leaders of Arab parties and officials from the United Torah Judaism party as Gadi Eisenkot attempts to form a government coalition, Israeli public broadcaster Kan revealed on Thursday. Representatives from Ra'am and the Joint List are exchanging information with the ultra-Orthodox party regarding their respective negotiations with the bloc led by Eisenkot. These conversations could pave the way for an unexpected political cooperation that might influence the formation of the next government.
Kan reported that Mansour Abbas, president of Ra'am, has suggested to United Torah Judaism leaders that they engage with the Eisenkot bloc on the sensitive issue of conscripting yeshiva students. Abbas believes a more flexible agreement, with support transcending traditional political divides, could help pass new legislation. Such an understanding would also allow the ultra-Orthodox party to strengthen its role as a kingmaker in coalition formation talks.
United Torah Judaism President Yaakov Asher has met multiple times recently with Mansour Abbas and Ahmad Tibi, a Knesset member from the Joint List. However, Asher's office downplayed the significance of these exchanges, characterizing them as informal conversations unrelated to political negotiations.
Currently, Arab parties have not been asked to support any conscription law, but the possibility of them abstaining from a Knesset vote is being discussed. The talks also involve another sensitive issue: the Kaminitz law, which increases penalties and enforcement measures against illegal construction. The Joint List is demanding its suspension in its negotiations with the Eisenkot bloc, a demand to which United Torah Judaism reportedly is not opposed. The two sides have cooperated on this issue previously; in 2020, Moshe Gafni, then-Chairman of the Knesset Finance Committee, attempted to advance a proposal by Ahmad Tibi to freeze the legislation.
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