Joint List Endorses Eisenkot to Form Israel's Next Government

The Arab-led Joint List announced on Thursday that it will support Israeli opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot in his bid to form a new government. This decision significantly undermines Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's attempts to retain his position, as it brings the total number of lawmakers backing Eisenkot to 67 in the 120-seat Knesset.

The endorsement follows a similar move on Wednesday by Ra'am, another Arab-led party, whose eight lawmakers also pledged their support to Eisenkot. Together, these two parties secured a record 19 seats in the general election held on October 27. This electoral success has granted them a potentially decisive role in determining who will lead Israel's next government.

In the October election, Netanyahu's right-wing bloc won 53 seats, while the opposition alliance led by Eisenkot secured 48. Since a majority in parliament requires 61 seats, neither camp was able to govern independently. Consequently, the support of Arab-led parties and smaller political factions has become crucial for successful coalition negotiations.

The Joint List stated that its unanimous decision reflects public demands to prevent Netanyahu and his government from returning to power. The alliance, which comprises three Arab-led factions, said the endorsement is intended to widen the gap between Eisenkot and Netanyahu, thereby strengthening the chances of replacing the incumbent government.

Despite this support, the Joint List noted that its decision came even though the opposition had failed to sufficiently challenge Netanyahu's political direction. The party also cited issues such as incitement against Arab citizens and attempts to undermine the legitimacy of their electoral choices as factors in their deliberations.

However, the endorsements do not guarantee that the Arab parties will join an Eisenkot-led government. The Joint List has indicated it is prepared to support an opposition government from outside the governing coalition rather than taking ministerial positions. Its leaders have historically opposed joining a government while Israel continues its occupation of Palestinian territory.

Eisenkot and his partners have faced internal divisions regarding cooperation with Arab-led parties. The opposition bloc has set conditions for potential partners, including recognizing Israel as a Jewish state, supporting military conscription, and condemning Hamas. Some opposition figures have rejected relying on Arab lawmakers, while others argue that their support is essential to ending Netanyahu's rule.

Gadi Eisenkot, 66, has repeatedly rejected the idea of a Palestinian state existing alongside Israel. During his tenure as army chief between 2015 and 2019, he publicly advocated for closer ties with Saudi Arabia. He stated that the two countries should work together to counter Iran's influence in the region and said Israel would be willing to share intelligence with Riyadh to confront Tehran.