Israel's prime minister-designate Gadi Eisenkot said he is working to form a government while accusing caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's circle of fueling a politically motivated campaign against Arab citizens.
Anadolu Agency reported Friday that Eisenkot made the remarks in a post on X. He said friction with Arab-party representatives did not justify directing hostility at Arab citizens generally. Eisenkot said Arab citizens make up 21% of Israel's population and called the campaign “racist and violent.” He also said the prime minister represents all citizens, including those who did not vote for him.
Eisenkot said talks with parliamentary blocs were advancing and that he was exploring options for a stable government. He called failure to form one a “grave mistake” and said “complex and important weeks lie ahead.”
The Oct. 27 vote gave neither Eisenkot’s opposition bloc nor Netanyahu’s allies the 61 seats needed for an outright Knesset majority. The Associated Press reported that Eisenkot's opposition bloc has 48 seats and Arab-led parties have 19. The 19 seats could give his bloc a path to the 61 needed for a majority, though the AP reported that some potential partners oppose cooperation with Arab-led parties. The AP also cited Ra’am's participation in a governing coalition in 2021 as a precedent.
President Isaac Herzog gave Eisenkot 28 days to form a government, with a possible 14-day extension, Anadolu Agency reported. Whether Eisenkot can secure enough support within that mandate is the next indicator in the coalition talks.
