Hostage Survivor Pleads With Eisenkot: Don't Betray Us With Arab Parties

Rom Bar-Solevsky, a prominent hostage survivor released from Hamas captivity, publicly appealed to Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the "Yashar" party, via X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, urging him not to form a coalition with Arab parties. Bar-Solevsky's plea comes amid election results that leave no bloc with a clear majority without the support of Arab parties, and amid calls from left-wing parties to establish a minority government in cooperation with them.

"Eisenkot - I ask you. For my sake. For the sake of hostage survivors, for the sake of bereaved families, and for everyone who voted for you; do not betray us and go with the terror-supporting Arabs who do not condemn Hamas," Bar-Solevsky wrote. "I did not survive captivity and go through October 7th to see them in the Knesset. Politics - not at any price."

The appeal arrives at a sensitive political juncture, with reports indicating intensive negotiations between "Change Bloc" leaders Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, and Avigdor Lieberman to oust the current Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana before a government is formed. This move requires a majority of 61 Knesset members, positioning Arab parties as kingmakers.

Preliminary results show Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc securing 53 mandates (Likud 26, Shas 7, United Torah Judaism 7, Otzma Yehudit 7, Religious Zionism-Tzomet 6), while the "Change Bloc" has 48 mandates (Yashar 20, Bishvilech 12, Yisrael Beiteinu 8, Labor 5, Meretz 3). Arab parties collectively garnered 10 mandates, making them crucial in any political scenario.

Democrats Chairman Yair Golan tweeted that the election reality demands an end to fear and racism, rejecting Netanyahu's division of votes into Jewish and Arab categories. He argued that Arab citizens' votes are equally valid and that excluding them means surrendering to Netanyahu. Golan also contended that the "Change Bloc" has a Zionist majority and an Israeli majority, and should form a government with Arab citizens of Israel, emphasizing the need for courage and leadership.

Ra'am Chairman Ahmed Tibi stated his party would vote to oust Ohana if necessary but would not join the coalition. Meanwhile, sources close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are preparing a campaign against the move, calling it a "parliamentary coup" to circumvent election results. President Isaac Herzog has called on leaders to prevent further elections and find a political solution, but the bloc's division and the controversy over cooperating with Arab parties complicate coalition formation.