Ra'am Leader Claims Netanyahu Felt Understanding With Hamas Chief Sinwar

Mansour Abbas, chairman of the Ra'am party, revealed that in 2021, then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told him he felt an understanding with Yahya Sinwar, the then-leader of Hamas. Abbas shared this in a November 10 interview with Ynet, following a speech by Netanyahu that criticized Arab parties. Abbas recounted that during a meeting at the Prime Minister's official residence on Balfour Street in Jerusalem, Netanyahu expressed satisfaction with this perceived mutual understanding with Sinwar, which Abbas interpreted as a sign of Netanyahu's full trust in the Hamas leader.

Abbas stated he is prepared to testify about this conversation to the state commission investigating the October 7 events. He linked the failures of October 7 to Netanyahu's overconfidence and misjudgment of Sinwar, placing responsibility for the security lapse on the Prime Minister. Abbas suggested that if he were in Netanyahu's position, he would have resigned. He also accused Netanyahu of portraying Arab parties as a security threat and inciting animosity towards Arab citizens of Israel, reminding the public that Ra'am also suffered losses on October 7 and that his party remains the largest in Arab society.

Regarding coalition negotiations, Abbas confirmed Ra'am's readiness to support Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the National Unity party, in forming a government and expressed the party's desire to join it. He indicated that future steps would depend on the ongoing negotiations. Sources within the "change bloc" suggest Eisenkot's condition for Abbas is a direct recognition of Hamas as a terrorist organization. Abbas is reportedly agreeable in principle but seeks guarantees for Ra'am's full participation in the government in return. He stated the matter would be resolved during coalition talks.

The article also references past interactions between Abbas and Netanyahu. A meeting at Balfour in 2021 occurred when Netanyahu was attempting to form a government after the 24th Knesset elections. In June 2021, Netanyahu allegedly asked Abbas not to join Naftali Bennett's government. While Likud officials publicly denied discussions of cooperation with Ra'am at the time, Abbas stated in a September 2022 interview that he met Netanyahu three times during the May 2021 "Operation Guardian of the Walls," accompanied by Netanyahu associates Natan Eshel, Yariv Levin, and Yoav Kisch. Abbas presented correspondence regarding draft documents with Likud, claiming he was offered a coalition agreement, which Likud denied, stating the talks concerned a bill for direct prime ministerial elections.