The Joint List announced Thursday it will tell President Isaac Herzog this evening that it’s recommending Gadi Eisenkot as its candidate to form the next government. The decision comes “following the broad public support we received from our constituents, in response to the public demand to prevent Netanyahu and his government from returning to power, and out of our commitment to take all possible steps to that end.”
The Joint List said in its statement: “We reached this decision unanimously, after consultations among the list’s components. This was not a simple decision. Despite our determination to bring down Netanyahu, the opposition camp led by Eisenkot has not yet demonstrated the necessary willingness to confront Netanyahu’s path, nor to fight the incitement against Arab citizens and the undermining of the legitimacy of their political choice.”
The statement continued: “Even though Eisenkot is receiving more recommendations than Netanyahu, we see importance in widening the gap between them. This is a step that strengthens the chances of replacing the government and reduces the possibility of various attempts to establish a national unity government that would keep Netanyahu in power—an option Netanyahu is pursuing with the support of influential Israeli, regional, and international actors.”
The Joint List delegation is expected to arrive at the President’s Residence today at 4:40 PM. The delegation will include Prof. Yousef Jabareen, Dr. Ahmad Tibi, Beker Awaodeh, Dr. Ofer Cassif, and Dr. Maha Karkabi-Sabah.