Gadi Eizenkot accuses Benjamin Netanyahu of inciting racism against Arab citizens

On November 13 and 14, 2026, Gadi Eizenkot, who has been tasked with forming a new Israeli government, publicly denounced outgoing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Eizenkot accused Netanyahu and his political allies of conducting a racist and aggressive campaign against Israel's Arab minority, which accounts for approximately 20-21% of the country's population, in order to delegitimize them for political gain.

The friction arises amidst ongoing coalition negotiations following parliamentary elections that failed to provide a clear majority for any single party. Arab-Israeli parties, including the Joint List and Ra'am, hold 19 seats in the Knesset and have signaled their willingness to support a coalition led by Eizenkot. Netanyahu has consistently criticized these parties, labeling them as supporters of terrorism and claiming they intend to destroy Israel to prevent their inclusion in any potential government alliance.

Eizenkot emphasized that the Prime Minister must represent all citizens regardless of their political affiliation or ethnic background. The situation remains a critical hurdle in the government formation process, as both political camps attempt to secure the support of Arab lawmakers while managing intense public rhetoric regarding their role in the Israeli political landscape.