Eisenkot Challenges Netanyahu's Incitement Against Palestinian Citizens of Israel

Former IDF Chief of Staff and politician Gadi Eisenkot has publicly criticized outgoing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his associates for inciting against Palestinian citizens of Israel. In a November 13th post on X, Eisenkot stated that Arab citizens, who constitute 21% of Israel's population, have been subjected to a violent, racist campaign to delegitimize them since the start of the election campaign. He emphasized that the Prime Minister is responsible for all citizens, including those who did not vote for him, and that attempts to exclude and defame this population segment are an affront to Israel's founding principles.

Eisenkot's statement is considered bold within the Israeli political context, especially following Netanyahu's November 10th Knesset opening speech, which reportedly crossed red lines by inciting against a significant portion of the country's population. Israeli media and analysts, including some on the right, suggest Netanyahu's speech backfired, alienating potential allies and highlighting his own political vulnerabilities. The increased representation of Arab parties in the Knesset has also disrupted traditional political calculations, making it difficult for any party to form a government without engaging with them.

Eisenkot's tweet also appears to leverage Netanyahu's perceived instability and contradictory statements. The article suggests Eisenkot sees Netanyahu's actions as detrimental to forming a governing coalition, forcing Eisenkot into a position where he must either compromise on engaging with Arab parliamentary representation or risk failing to form a government despite having a parliamentary majority.

Discussions involving Arab parties, particularly Mansour Abbas of the United Arab List and Ahmad Tibi of the Joint List, have revealed implicit understandings between Netanyahu and Hamas leader Sinwar prior to October 2023, as well as Netanyahu's office's attempts to secure their support post-election. Tibi, in particular, shared direct messages from Netanyahu's office concerning legislation that would prevent him from running for office due to his indictment.

Eisenkot's recent actions, including re-sharing an interview with Tibi, have embarrassed Netanyahu and exposed his political maneuvering. This follows similar calls from figures like Yair Golan, Kareev, Ehud Barak, Ehud Olmert, and Moshe Ya'alon, urging an end to incitement against the Arab public.

As Eisenkot navigates the complexities of forming a government, he is increasingly highlighting his differences with Netanyahu, warning against Netanyahu's alleged intentions to provoke an Iran-related security crisis to maintain power. Eisenkot is reportedly open to settlements in Syria and Lebanon, potentially involving withdrawals from areas occupied since 2024, in exchange for strategic positions. He also supports a US-backed plan for Gaza involving international and Palestinian forces. Eisenkot's national security vision opposes annexation and the actions of "Hilltop Youth," which he labels as terrorism.

In contrast to previous years where Arab politicians were largely excluded from Hebrew media, the post-election period has seen a significant increase in coverage of Arab voices and issues. This broader engagement contrasts sharply with Netanyahu's narrative, which labels Arab citizens as "supporters of terrorism" and "enemies of Israel." Elite political and media circles are urging Eisenkot to rely on Arab parliamentary representation and to be wary of Netanyahu's tactics. Academic institutions, hospitals, and labor unions are also warning against street-level racism and its translation into violence by officials and media figures.

There is significant support within Eisenkot's and the "Change Bloc's" electoral base for relying on Arab parliamentary representation to form a government and dismantle what they see as Netanyahu's self-serving political system. This growing support is pressuring Netanyahu's attempts to remain in power. A segment of Israeli society acknowledges that Eisenkot's legitimacy is bolstered by the acquired legitimacy and electoral strength of Arab citizens, regardless of racist efforts. This perspective emphasizes the Arab community's will for parliamentary representation, suggesting Eisenkot must embrace this reality despite potential tensions within his own camp, particularly with Lieberman, who opposes coalitions based on Arab representation, despite having previously partnered with the United Arab List himself.

Despite the prevalence of hate speech and racist exclusion in Israel, the current phase indicates the emergence of broad movements challenging these trends, driven by the will of the Palestinian Arab public in Israel. Eisenkot's public stance against Netanyahu's racist rhetoric signals ongoing shifts in certain segments of Israeli public opinion, supporting engagement with Arab parliamentary representation. His challenge to Netanyahu's incitement highlights the power of Arab parliamentary representation and the public's will in achieving this political milestone against existential threats. Arab parliamentary representation is asserting its legitimacy in Israeli politics, becoming a decisive force for the "Change Bloc" if they aim to govern and end Netanyahu's tenure. While pre-election focus was on ousting the right-wing government, the current situation significantly influences the identity and policies of the incoming government. These shifts in Israeli public opinion, media, and politics are important but require sustained, purposeful Arab political action and broad engagement from all anti-fascist and anti-racist forces in Israeli society.