Tibi says Netanyahu associate sought Arab lawmakers’ help to block Eisenkot

Joint List lawmaker Ahmad Tibi presented messages in a Channel 12 interview on Friday that he said came from Natan Eshel, a longtime associate of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Tibi alleged that Netanyahu’s camp had sought Arab lawmakers’ assistance in obstructing efforts by Yashar chairman Gadi Eisenkot to form a government, even as the prime minister publicly attacked cooperation with Arab parties.

Tibi said he broke his usual practice of keeping private exchanges confidential because of Netanyahu’s November 10 address to the newly sworn-in Knesset. In that speech, Netanyahu called for a national unity government, opposed a coalition dependent on Ra’am or the Joint List and accused Arab lawmakers of supporting terrorism and seeking Israel’s destruction. Eisenkot described the address as “hate-filled,” while Arab parties condemned it as racist and inciting.

According to Tibi, Eshel contacted him a week before the October 27 election, the following day and again after the results were released. Tibi also said an unnamed government minister approached him during the week, urging him to oppose an Eisenkot-led government and favor another election. Tibi said he replied that the Joint List wanted to replace Netanyahu and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir rather than return to the polls.

Likud dismissed Tibi’s account as “a complete lie” and accused Arab parties of seeking legitimacy. In its response to Channel 12, the party said it would not cooperate with parties that disrespect the national anthem and harm Israeli soldiers. Tibi, meanwhile, argued that Netanyahu’s accusations about the election were an effort to undermine both Arab political leaders and Israel’s two million Arab citizens.

Netanyahu and Likud began alleging after the election that Arab parties had stolen the vote, citing separate inquiries into suspected vote-buying and possible foreign interference. Election officials have repeatedly said there is no evidence that the results were compromised. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara said on Sunday that she had seen nothing capable of affecting the outcome.

Tibi attributed the substantial rise in Arab turnout to anger toward the outgoing government and what he described as attacks and incitement against Arab citizens. He cited violent crime in Arab communities, statements by Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, and a sense of existential threat as reasons voters mobilized.

Earlier in the week, Channel 12 separately reported that Eshel repeatedly approached Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas before, during and after the election, asking him not to help Eisenkot form a government. Transcripts cited by the channel showed Eshel asking before the vote about legislation barring an indicted lawmaker from being tasked with forming a government. Such a measure could prevent Netanyahu, who faces a corruption trial, from returning to office.

The report said Eshel later asked whether Ra’am would support Eisenkot in parliament without joining his coalition. Abbas initially said the party would await the results, after which Ra’am stopped replying. Eshel denied carrying messages for Netanyahu and said he had questioned whether Arab politicians would support someone unwilling to include them in a coalition.

Tibi also criticized Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman’s rejection of reliance on Arab parties, noting that Arab lawmakers had supported the previous government in which Liberman served and his subsequent appointment to chair a Knesset committee. Liberman continues to oppose a government dependent on Ra’am or the Joint List while backing Eisenkot. He has recently expressed willingness to consider a coalition with ultra-Orthodox parties and compromise on Haredi enlistment to avoid another election and end Netanyahu’s rule.