Arab diplomats prefer chareidim in Eisenkot coalition

Diplomats from an Arab state that maintains relations with Israel are following the coalition talks around a possible Gadi Eisenkot government closely, and according to a report on Kan News this evening, they see a government with the chareidi parties as a positive development from their perspective.

In private conversations, the diplomats expressed a clear preference for a government supported by the chareidi parties over one that includes the far-right parties led by Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. According to the diplomats, the chareidim would be easier partners for the Arab states to work with, because they are not identified with the "territorial ambitions" attributed to the current ministers.

In those same conversations, the diplomats said Ben-Gvir and Smotrich are seen as pushing for expanded settlement and Israeli presence in various areas of the region, including Syria, Lebanon, the Gaza Strip and Judea and Samaria. By contrast, the chareidi parties are not expected to place obstacles in the way of advancing political arrangements, according to those sources.

Beyond the political dimension, the diplomats believe that chareidi participation in an Eisenkot-led government could also contribute to its stability. From their perspective, this would be a coalition makeup that would be easier to work with and more conducive to advancing regional initiatives.

The comments come against the backdrop of Eisenkot's ongoing contacts with the chareidi parties ahead of a possible new government. A senior source in the Change Bloc said after a meeting of the bloc's leaders that "everyone in the room agreed that there will be no government relying on the Arabs, and on the other hand everyone agreed that talks must be held with the chareidi factions."

Lapid entering the meeting (Photo: Avsholom Shoshani/Flash90)

The draft issue is expected to be one of the central topics in negotiations between Eisenkot and the chareidim. Eisenkot has already stated that he intends to base himself on the draft framework of his party, Yashar!, in the framework of contacts with the chareidim.

In recent days, speculation in the political arena has intensified around the various scenarios for forming a government, with political sources raising different scenarios in which Eisenkot and the chareidim might move forward together.