Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot declared Shabbos that Ra’am will not be part of a government he leads, while leveling an extraordinary accusation against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the transfer of Qatari funds to Hamas.
Speaking in an interview with Channel 12, Eisenkot said Arab and Charedi parties seeking to join a coalition under his leadership would be required to support Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, accept the Declaration of Independence and universal military service, and recognize Hamas as a terrorist organization that must be destroyed.
“At the moment I don’t see any Arab or Charedi parties who accept these principles, including Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas, and therefore he won’t be part of my next government,” Eisenkot said.
Eisenkot, a former IDF chief of staff, also launched a sharp attack on Netanyahu over the wars against Hamas and Hezbollah, arguing that neither terrorist organization has been defeated despite Netanyahu’s promises of “total victory.”
He accused Netanyahu of having led Israel “blindly, arrogantly and irresponsibly” toward the October 7 massacre. The remarks are Eisenkot’s political characterization of Netanyahu’s conduct.
Eisenkot then addressed the transfer of Qatari funds to Hamas, amid recent reporting concerning what Netanyahu knew about Qatar’s funding of the Gaza-based terrorist organization.
According to Eisenkot, Netanyahu’s conduct regarding the Qatari funds amounted to either “treason” or a gross breach of trust, and he called for an investigation into the matter. The allegation is Eisenkot’s accusation and has not been established as a legal finding.
Eisenkot also reiterated during the interview that he opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state.
(YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated on Motzei Yom Tov in Israel)
