Gadi Eisenkot Slams Benjamin Netanyahu Over Election Campaign

Israeli prime ministerial hopeful Gadi Eisenkot has publicly accused caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of fuelling a racist and violent campaign against Palestinian citizens of Israel during the recent electoral contest. Eisenkot shared his views in a lengthy social media update published on Friday, addressing current political developments in the country.

In his statement, Eisenkot highlighted that Arab citizens make up twenty-one percent of the total population and argued that the outgoing prime minister and his associates directed a campaign of delegitimisation against them for political gain. He emphasised that the head of the government represents all citizens equally, regardless of their voting choices, and described attempts to marginalise and smear Palestinian citizens as an anti-state action.

The October 27 elections concluded without a clear parliamentary majority for either major bloc. Eisenkot's four-party alliance secured 48 seats, while Netanyahu's right-wing and religious bloc obtained 53 seats, both falling short of the required 61 seats. Meanwhile, Arab-led parties representing Palestinian citizens achieved a record 19 seats.

Views on Arab Parties and Coalition Talks

Netanyahu previously made unproven allegations of electoral fraud regarding Arab-majority parties, claims that were dismissed by Israel’s own electoral authorities. The caretaker leader also criticised Arab-led parties for declining to label Hamas as a terror group following the October 7, 2023 attacks, despite leaders of those parties having condemned the assault.

Eisenkot acknowledged that political disagreements and strong feelings exist regarding representatives of Arab parties, but maintained that slandering an entire sector is unacceptable. Although Arab-led parties have endorsed Eisenkot to succeed Netanyahu, Eisenkot has ruled out forming a government directly with them. He currently has six weeks to form a new government and has stated a desire to fulfil the mandate swiftly.

Eisenkot accused Netanyahu of fuelling a racist campaign to marginalise Palestinian citizens of Israel.

Security discussions have also continued, with Eisenkot meeting Netanyahu and his military secretary to review the security situation. Reports indicate Netanyahu is weighing potential military action against Iran, despite reservations from the United States, his military establishment, and Eisenkot, who insists on avoiding uncritical escalations.

Why it matters

This political friction highlights deep divisions in Israeli governance as potential leaders negotiate coalition structures following an inconclusive election. The outcome affects national stability, regional security policies regarding Iran, and the political representation of millions of citizens.