Accusations of Netanyahu using the Arab file politically in the battle for power

Israeli Prime Minister-designate Gadi Eisenkot accused caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of fueling a "racist" campaign against the Arab minority, against the backdrop of the latter's attempt to delegitimize Arab representatives in the Knesset by linking them to the Hamas movement. Rarely does a prominent Jewish politician take a firm stance in defense of Arabs in Israel, even though they constitute about 20 percent of the country's population.

The two Arab lists, the unified and the joint, won 19 out of a total of 120 seats in the Knesset in last month’s elections, and are likely to play a decisive role in Eisenkot’s efforts to form a government. “Arab citizens of Israel are an integral part of the Israeli story,” Eisenkot said on the X platform.

He continued, "They were subjected to a racist and hostile delegitimization campaign, incited by the outgoing prime minister and those around him for political purposes." He added, "The attempt to marginalize them and distort their reputation collectively is a flagrant violation of the principles of civil responsibility."

Netanyahu and his allies repeatedly criticized Arab party leaders for refusing to describe Hamas as a "terrorist", following its unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

It is noteworthy that Hamas, a Palestinian Islamist armed group, is classified by Germany, the European Union, the United States and other countries as a terrorist organization.

All Arab party leaders condemned the attack. Netanyahu also accused Arab parties of committing electoral irregularities and fraud, but the Elections Commission cleared them of the accusations.

Netanyahu's speech this week ignited controversy

In a speech this week, Netanyahu expressed his regret over the refusal of the two Arab lists to recognize Israel as a Jewish state, even though the leader of the United Arab List, Mansour Abbas, had done so in the past.

The caretaker prime minister also accused the Arab parties of seeking to establish either an "Islamic state" or a "national Palestinian state." During the same ceremony, the far-right Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, interrupted Joint List leader Youssef Jabareen while he was being sworn in, accusing him of “loyalty to the Hamas movement.”

Gadi Eisenkot said: “It is completely legitimate to disagree with representatives of Arab parties, and even to express strong opposition to some of them, but it is neither legitimate nor acceptable to offend an entire society, and I will not allow that.”

On Sunday, President Isaac Herzog assigned Eisenkot to form a new government, following consultations in which the majority of political formations, including the two Arab lists, recommended that he undertake this task. But Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the "Israel Our Home" party and one of Eisenkot's allies from the right, stated that he would withdraw from the coalition if Israeli Arabs were part of it.

If Eisenkot fails to form a government within 28 days, he can request a 14-day extension. If he does not succeed during the extension as well, the task will move to another deputy, most likely to be Netanyahu.