Arab Israeli Lawmaker Reveals Netanyahu Advisor's Messages

Member of Knesset Ahmad Tibi revealed on live television that he had received messages from Natan Eshel, a close advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, following Netanyahu's speech in the Knesset. Tibi stated he was angered by Netanyahu's accusations of election theft and directly addressed the Prime Minister, calling him a "hypocrite" and questioning his shame. Tibi claimed Eshel contacted him a week before the election, the day after, and after the results were published, attempting to dissuade Tibi's party from supporting a law concerning a "charged" individual, which Tibi interpreted as an effort to prevent their opposition to Netanyahu. Tibi also alleged that a minister contacted him privately, advising against trusting the government's intentions regarding potential new elections and suggesting it was better to hold them. Tibi responded that they did not want new elections but aimed to oust Netanyahu and Itamar Ben-Gvir, accusing Netanyahu of spreading hatred and delegitimizing the Arab public leadership and 2 million Arab citizens.

Tibi further criticized Netanyahu's claims of election theft, stating, "Only a thief can call others thieves." He asserted that a prime minister should behave statesmanlike and that Netanyahu's statements were an attempt to delegitimize the Arab public leadership. Tibi also commented on Avigdor Lieberman, recalling his past positions as Finance Minister and chair of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, which he attributed to Arab support during the "change government." Tibi called Lieberman's current stance "hypocrisy."

Regarding the high voter turnout in the Arab community, Tibi described it as a "heroic act of self-defense" against a government that attacked and incited against the Arab public. He cited ongoing crime, the "disparaging remarks" of Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, and an "existential threat" as reasons for the public's response. The Likud party issued a statement calling Tibi's claims "an absolute lie" and part of a "chain of lies" from parties supporting terrorism, stating the Likud does not cooperate with parties that disrespect the national anthem or harm IDF soldiers, emphasizing that national unity is paramount.