Ra’am Leader Says He Is Ready to Join Israeli Government Led by Eisenkot

Mansour Abbas, leader of the United Arab List (Ra’am), said late Tuesday that he was prepared to join an Israeli government headed by former military chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot.

The remarks signalled Abbas’s willingness to take part in a coalition under Eisenkot, who is the leading challenger to outgoing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Abbas’s stated readiness concerned a government led by Eisenkot, rather than a broader commitment to join any coalition opposed to Netanyahu.

The statement indicated openness to participation, but did not amount to an announcement of a coalition agreement or confirm that a government would be formed.