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Arab lawmaker Ahmad Tibi said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to remain caretaker prime minister, launch a war on Iran with U.S. President Donald Trump after the U.S. midterm elections and then call another election, urging the opposition to block him by forming a government led by Gadi Eisenkot.
Tibi, head of the Joint List’s parliamentary bloc, told Türkiye's state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) in an exclusive interview that his alliance is ready to help Eisenkot form a government without joining the coalition.
"I think Netanyahu wants another election. For now, he wants to remain prime minister of the caretaker government," Tibi said.
"Netanyahu wants to launch a war against Iran in cooperation and coordination with Donald Trump after the US midterm elections, then hold another election," he added.
"The opposition must block Netanyahu by announcing that a government will be formed under Eisenkot as prime minister. We, as the Joint Arab List, are ready to help," Tibi said.
"We in the Joint Arab List do not want to enter a government. We have spoken about providing a safety net for our community and making it possible to bring down Netanyahu’s government and establish an alternative government through understandings with the opposition," he said.
Tibi said Arab lawmakers would seek commitments on their communities’ needs in exchange for parliamentary support. "The most important thing for us now is to bring down this government," he said.
He said the Joint List was open to coordinating with the United Arab List (Ra’am). "We have a common goal: bringing down this government. Of course, there is nothing wrong with coordinating with our brothers in the United Arab List," he said.
"Netanyahu is deeply disturbed by the high turnout among Arab voters because it blocked and disrupted his plan to form another government under his leadership," Tibi said. "Netanyahu cannot form a government. Itamar Ben-Gvir will never be police minister again."
Rejecting fraud allegations from Netanyahu’s camp, Tibi said: "The only address for thieves is Netanyahu’s Prime Minister’s Office. Benjamin Netanyahu is the last person who can lecture us on honesty and integrity."
"They want Arabs not to vote so they can continue governing. Our votes brought down their plans," he added.
Asked about Netanyahu’s post questioning his trip to Qatar before the election, Tibi said he gave an Al Jazeera interview "watched by millions" and returned quickly. "If I am invited again, I will go and participate. Anyone who does not like that can deal with it."
On Avigdor Lieberman’s refusal to sit with "Bibi or Tibi," he said: "I say that’s right, because I don’t want to sit with Lieberman either."
Democrats leader Yair Golan said he met Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas "to promote quickly a government of change and to realize the will of the Israeli voter."
"This is a time for action. Our responsibility is not to miss the opportunity for change," Golan wrote on X.
Final results released Friday showed Netanyahu’s bloc with 53 seats, Eisenkot’s bloc with 48 and the Arab parties with a combined 19.
Likud remained the largest party with 27 seats.
The Shin Bet said its probe into suspected irregularities was not intended to "cast aspersions or place blame on an entire sector that went out to vote in a democratic and lawful manner." Election committee acting director-general Dean Livne called suggestions of widespread issues "entirely groundless."
President Isaac Herzog is expected to consult parliamentary factions before assigning a lawmaker to form a government, as Tibi’s warning adds to uncertainty over Israel’s next steps.
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