Diplomat warns against Israel opposition's refusal to court Arab parties

Israel's opposition faces a difficult calculation following recent elections, where Arab-led parties secured a strong vote share that now influences the formation of the next government.

Political observers question whether opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot will bridge the divide to build a coalition. Alon Pinkas, a political analyst and former diplomat who advised Ehud Barak and Shimon Peres, argues that the current reluctance is "myopic and reckless."

Pinkas outlined two options for Eisenkot: form a formal coalition or build a minority government supported from the outside. Under the latter model, Arab parties would back major legislation and confidence votes without holding cabinet seats. Both Eisenkot and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have previously rejected this arrangement. Netanyahu described a government relying on their support as "a shame and a disgrace."

The debate centers on whether reliance on these parties undermines Israel's identity as a Jewish state. Pinkas challenged that logic, noting that ultra-Orthodox parties, which describe themselves as non-Zionist, are typically included in governing coalitions. He attributed the rising support for Arab parties to high crime and murder rates in those communities. He claimed the current government "willfully ignored their plight" by failing to deploy sufficient police or investigate the killings.

Pinkas assessed the government's prospects with high certainty. "Mr. Netanyahu cannot. I repeat, cannot form a government," he said.