Aliza Bloch Rules Out Joining Government with Ra'am or Joint List Parties

Aliza Bloch, the mayor of Be'er Sheva, firmly stated on Monday that she will not join any government coalition that includes the Arab parties Ra'am or the Joint List. Her remarks came in response to circulating claims about potential cooperation with Arab parties after the elections. Bloch emphasized that she will under no circumstances sit in a government with parties that support terrorism and refuse to define Hamas as a terrorist organization.

She distinguished between these parties and Arab citizens who accept Israel's Jewish character, support national service, and identify with the state. Bloch said there is room in the government for patriotic Arab citizens who back military or national service and recognize Israel’s Jewish identity. However, she made clear that this does not extend to Ra'am or the Joint List, which she labeled as terrorist-supporting parties.

Bloch’s statements were intended to categorically reject suggestions that she might join a government reliant on Arab parties. At the same time, she left open the possibility of including Arab individuals who meet her criteria of loyalty to the state, support for service, and recognition of Israel’s Jewish nature.