Israel’s Netanyahu Faces Growing Political Threat as Opposition Leader Gadi Eisenkot Opens Door to Arab Party Support
Israeli opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot is signaling a potential political breakthrough that could pave the way for a new government and end Benjamin Netanyahu’s tenure as prime minister.
Following Tuesday’s election, Netanyahu’s political bloc holds 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset, falling short of the 61 required for a parliamentary majority. Eisenkot’s opposition bloc holds 48 seats, while Arab parties control another 19. Combined, the opposition and Arab parties could command 67 seats.
Eisenkot said Israeli voters had rejected Netanyahu’s government and called for the formation of a new coalition. He also pledged to end what he described as a culture of lies under Netanyahu’s leadership.
Meanwhile, Arab Joint List lawmaker Ahmad Tibi indicated that his party could support a government seeking to remove Netanyahu without formally joining the coalition.
Netanyahu has strongly opposed the proposal, declaring that forming a government with Arab parties is “forbidden.”
However, significant obstacles remain, particularly opposition from some potential coalition partners. No agreement has been reached, and the formation of a new government remains uncertain.
