{
  "id": 18334969,
  "title": "Arab parties back Eisenkot, but path to Israeli coalition remains fraught",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/arab-parties-back-eisenkot-but-path-to-israeli-coalition-remains-18334969",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-11-05T15:32:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2026/11/05/arab-parties-back-eisenkot-but-path-to-israeli-coalition-remains-fraught/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Arab parties have endorsed former Israeli Army general Gadi Eisenkot as the country's next prime minister, but tensions over Hamas are complicating the coalition-building process. Mansour Abbas, leader of the Arab political party Ra'am, urged Hamas to disarm and relinquish power during talks with Israeli President Isaac Herzog. While condemning terrorism, Abbas did not explicitly label Hamas as a terrorist organization, causing a rift with Eisenkot, whom he supports.\n\nEisenkot, seeking a coalition majority, must bring together parties supporting his bid. Ra'am, the most flexible Arab party, and the Joint List, a more radical faction, have both endorsed Eisenkot. Despite reluctance from some opposition bloc members, Abbas and the Joint List indicated willingness to collaborate. Eisenkot now has a majority of Knesset-party recommendations, increasing the likelihood of President Herzog granting him the first opportunity to form a government.\n\nNetanyahu's United Torah Judaism, representing ultra-Orthodox Jewish voters and a former Netanyahu ally, has declined to recommend any candidate. Herzog plans to meet separately with Eisenkot and Netanyahu to finalize party consultations, with a decision expected on Thursday night. If Eisenkot is chosen, he will have 28 days to form a government, with a possible 14-day extension. In case of deadlock, another politician deemed capable by Herzog will be considered.",
  "summary": "Arab parties threw their backing behind former army general Gadi Eisenkot to be Israel's next prime minister on Thursday, but a row over Hamas is threatening to derail the process. Mansour Abbas, the leader of the majority-Arab political party Ra’am, called for Hamas to be disarmed and removed from power but stopped short of calling the group a terrorist organisation during talks with the Israeli…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}