Eisenkot Seeks Arab Party Support to Replace Netanyahu

Israel's opposition is exploring cooperation with Arab political parties as Gadi Eisenkot seeks to replace Benjamin Netanyahu as prime minister following the October 27, 2026, parliamentary election. Eisenkot has established conditions for potential coalition partners while coordinating with opposition leaders to secure enough support in the Knesset.

According to election results cited by Yahoo News, Netanyahu's bloc secured 53 seats, while Eisenkot's bloc won 48. The Arab parties collectively hold 19 seats, making their support potentially decisive in the effort to establish a new government.

A government needs the backing of at least 61 members in the 120-seat Knesset to secure a parliamentary majority. However, a minority government could also take office if it receives more votes in its favor than against it.

Eisenkot outlined four central requirements for parties seeking to participate in his government. These include recognizing Israel as a Jewish state, accepting the principles of its independence, recognizing Hamas as a terrorist organization that must be destroyed, and acknowledging Israeli governing authority over Gaza.

He also requires coalition partners to agree on mandatory military service. The conditions were presented as part of his efforts to establish common ground with potential political allies, including Arab parliamentary factions.

During an interview with Channel 12, Joint List leader Yousef Jabareen declined to classify Hamas as a terrorist organization when questioned about Eisenkot's conditions.

"I'm not in an interrogation room," Jabareen said during the interview.

The exchange exposed a significant disagreement between Eisenkot's coalition requirements and the positions of some Arab political representatives. Ahmad Tibi, who leads the Ta'al party within the Joint List, has also previously declined to describe Hamas as a terrorist organization.

Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir responded to the interview by sharing an excerpt on social media and criticizing the possibility of cooperation between the opposition and Arab parties.

"They want to form a government with these human scum. Disgraceful!" Ben-Gvir said.

The Joint List condemned the October 7 massacre and attributed increased voter participation in Arab communities to what it described as Ben-Gvir's "incitement" against them.

Another obstacle involves Avigdor Lieberman, leader of Yisrael Beiteinu, which belongs to Eisenkot's political bloc. Lieberman has ruled out joining a government dependent on Arab party support, despite his party holding seven parliamentary seats.

According to Yahoo News, his opposition could leave Eisenkot one seat short of a parliamentary majority if Lieberman votes against the proposed government alongside Netanyahu's bloc.

Meanwhile, political coordination has intensified among opposition leaders. SadaNews reported that Eisenkot met Yair Lapid at the latter's home on Saturday evening to discuss the election results and coordinate their next political steps.

A joint statement from their parties said the discussions focused on implementing voters' wishes through coordinated parliamentary action. Eisenkot also reaffirmed his intention to secure a parliamentary majority to establish the next government.

Separately, Channel 12 reported that Ahmad Tibi had informed Eisenkot that the Joint List would support replacing Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana. The faction also indicated that it would not support Likud's no-confidence motions or initiate legislation to dissolve parliament.

The opposition bloc is considering Eisenkot or Lapid for the Knesset speakership. Lieberman has separately stated that he does not intend to seek the position during the next parliamentary term.

Support for Eisenkot also appears possible beyond the opposition's existing partners. A senior Joint List official told Walla on November 1 that the Joint List and Ra'am were expected to recommend Eisenkot for prime minister during consultations with President Isaac Herzog.

Other parliamentary groups are also reviewing their positions. According to Jerusalem Post reporting, a Shas official indicated that negotiations with Eisenkot had not been ruled out, saying there was "no reason" to exclude discussions.

United Torah Judaism representatives are preparing consultations with Rabbis Dov Landau and Moshe Hillel Hirsch to discuss the election outcome and possible negotiations. Yaakov Asher, head of the party's Knesset faction, is expected to participate.

However, the possibility of an agreement remains uncertain. Lieberman's opposition and disagreements over Hamas represent significant challenges for Eisenkot, particularly given his campaign pledge to end Hamas rule in Gaza within 18 months of becoming prime minister.

President Isaac Herzog is scheduled to consult party leaders on Wednesday after receiving the official election results from Central Elections Committee chairman Noam Sohlberg.

Herzog will then give one candidate 28 days to form a government, with the possibility of a 14-day extension if the initial attempt fails. If that effort also proves unsuccessful, another candidate will receive 28 days to pursue coalition formation.