Eisenkot urges respect for Israel's Arab minority after Netanyahu attacks
Israeli Prime Ministerial hopeful Gadi Eisenkot urged respect for Israel's Arab minority, criticizing caretaker Premier Benjamin Netanyahu and right-wing figures for linking Arab lawmakers to Hamas. Eisenkot emphasized that Arab citizens are integral to Israel and attempts to vilify them violate the nation's founding principles. This comes after Netanyahu's allies criticized Arab parties for their stance on Hamas following the October 7 attack.
Why it matters
This political dispute highlights deep divisions within Israeli society regarding the role and legitimacy of its Arab minority, impacting potential coalition formations and the country's democratic values, especially in the context of ongoing conflict.
Jerusalem Israeli Prime Ministerial hopeful Gadi Eisenkot called on Friday (November 13, 2026) for respect for the country's Arab minority after caretaker Premier Benjamin Netanyahu and other right-wing figures sought to delegitimise the community's lawmakers by linking them to Hamas. Two Arab-majority parties, Raam and the Joint List, secured a combined 19 seats in last month's election, winning nearly a sixth of the 120-seat parliament and potentially emerging as kingmakers in efforts by Mr. Eisenkot to form a government.
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