Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar! party, on Sunday evening called for an immediate investigation into what he described as an alleged attempt by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's circle to disrupt the election, including the use of police against Arab citizens of Israel without valid warrants.
The statement from Eisenkot, a member of Knesset who heads the party officially named "Yashar! with Eisenkot," comes amid coalition negotiations to form a new government. Within the so-called change bloc of parties opposed to Netanyahu, some have called for exploring a unity government.
Eisenkot described Netanyahu's conduct as an immediate threat to Israeli democracy and said that ending his tenure, and preventing another election round under his leadership, is the main consideration guiding him in coalition talks.
"The conduct of outgoing Prime Minister Netanyahu and his circle is a tangible, direct and immediate threat to Israeli democracy," Eisenkot said. "There is no area left in Israel that has not been corrupted, distorted and subordinated for the sake of Netanyahu's personal political survival. There is no restraint he has not lost, and no line that has not been crossed."
"Under no circumstances may Netanyahu continue to hold the reins of government for even one more minute. Under no circumstances may Israel be dragged into another round of elections while he is prime minister," he added. "Clearly, as long as he is in office, there will be no more fair and lawful elections in Israel. This is the main consideration guiding me in every coalition negotiation I am conducting these days."
Eisenkot then turned to a newly revealed affair, which he linked to the so-called Qatargate affair, and accused those around the prime minister of attempting to undermine the integrity of the election and of targeting Israel's Arab citizens.
