Israel's Joint List to back Eisenkot but stay out of cabinet
The Joint List, which holds 19 seats in Israel's parliament, will cooperate with opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot on key issues but will not serve in his government.
Israel's Joint List, a coalition of Arab parties, said on Sunday it is ready to cooperate with opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot but will not join his government, Russia's state news agency TASS reported.
The Joint List holds 19 seats in Israel's parliament, and its leader, Yousef Jabareen, said the group had held informal consultations with Eisenkot's representatives.
Jabareen told Al Jazeera that those representatives gave positive responses to issues of concern to the Arab population.
"We will cooperate with him, but we will not join the government," he said.
Jabareen said the opposition will need the support of Arab lawmakers to prevent Benjamin Netanyahu from returning as prime minister.
He described the moment as historic, one that could open a path to serious political change.
He warned that it would be difficult for Eisenkot to advance his program in parliament without coordinating with the Joint List.
Among the Arab population's main demands, Jabareen cited better social services, more funding for municipalities, educational institutions and youth programs, and measures to combat crime.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog mandated Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar opposition party, to form a new government after the Oct. 27 parliamentary elections.
Herzog made the decision after consulting delegations from all parties that won seats in the election.
