Ra'am would back an Eisenkot government even without a coalition deal

The Arab-led Ra'am party, known in English as the United Arab List, is prepared to vote for a government headed by Gadi Eisenkot even if no coalition agreement has been concluded by the time he presents it, Haaretz reported, citing a senior official in the party. Ra'am is led by Mansour Abbas, and Eisenkot heads the Yashar party.

According to Haaretz, the aim is to get around efforts by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stop such a government from taking office. The Times of Israel, summarising the Haaretz report, said Ra'am wants Eisenkot to be able to swear in a government and replace Netanyahu as soon as possible, even if that government is not assured of stability. The official was not named in either account.

Why Ra'am is moving early

The Times of Israel account describes Eisenkot's bloc as numbering 48 lawmakers. Ra'am, which has eight members of the Knesset, Israel's parliament, says it wants to spare that bloc from having to lean on United Torah Judaism, an ultra-Orthodox party, for support. In the party's telling, offering its votes without waiting for a signed deal would also reduce the room for counter-moves by Netanyahu's camp before a new government is installed.

In Israel, a prospective prime minister must win a vote of confidence in the Knesset before the government is sworn in. A coalition agreement is the written deal in which partner parties set out policy commitments and the division of posts. Ra'am's position, as reported, separates the two: it would supply votes at the swearing-in stage while negotiations over substance continue or remain unfinished.

Where the Joint List stands

The Joint List, a second Arab-led party, takes a different line. According to Haaretz as cited by the Times of Israel, it will not vote for an Eisenkot-led government, but it also will not work to bring one down. No coalition negotiations are under way with the Joint List, the report said.

Both Arab-led parties do intend to work with Eisenkot's bloc on two early parliamentary matters, the report said: replacing the speaker of the Knesset at the earliest opportunity and establishing the Knesset's committees. The speaker controls the parliamentary agenda, and committees are where legislation is examined, so both steps shape how quickly a new majority can act.

Policy aims and secrecy

Both parties want changes in government policy toward Israel's Arab community, according to the reports. Ra'am is trying to keep the details of its current discussions out of public view, the Times of Israel account said, and neither report sets out what Ra'am is asking for in return for its support.

Resistance inside Eisenkot's camp

Support from Arab parties remains contested on Eisenkot's side. The Times of Israel noted that key figures around Eisenkot have publicly opposed depending on the Arab parties to form a government. Its item was cut off at that point, and it did not name those figures.

What the reports do not say

Neither Eisenkot nor Yashar has responded publicly to the reported offer, as far as the reports show, and Netanyahu's camp has not commented on it. Ra'am has not confirmed the position on the record, since the only source is an unnamed official speaking to Haaretz. The reports do not specify what efforts by Netanyahu the move is meant to counter, which Eisenkot allies oppose Arab party support, or what policy changes Ra'am is seeking.