Palestinian Lawmaker Tiybi: We Will Support Eisenkot Government

In Israel's parliamentary elections held on November 1, the Joint List led by Youssef Jabareen and Mansour Abbas's United Arab List (Ra'am Party) together secured 19 seats, placing Arab parties in a decisive position in the Israeli Knesset. According to Anadolu Agency, Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling bloc holds 53 seats, while the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot holds 48 seats; neither bloc can form a government alone.

Palestinian-born Israeli lawmaker Tiybi, speaking to Israel's Channel 12, said, "We will not be part of the government" and clarified that while they do not want ministerial positions or cabinet seats, change cannot happen without Arab parties.

Tiybi announced that the Joint List will advise President Isaac Herzog to mandate government formation "probably to Gadi Eisenkot." He also stated they will support votes to remove the current Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana from office and establish a state investigative commission regarding October 7.

Tiybi said they will not support any no-confidence motions put forward by Likud and will not initiate a process to dissolve the Knesset, explaining they are "willing to accept bitter medicine" because change is impossible without Arab parties. He addressed Eisenkot saying: "I call on Eisenkot: Do not be like Gantz, be like Rabin."

Eisenkot had previously stated that when the Knesset opens on November 10, the priority agenda will include the October 7 investigative commission, mandatory military service arrangements for Ultra-Orthodox Jews, and the repeal of judicial reform.