Ahmad Tibi, head of the Joint Arab List's parliamentary bloc in Israel's Knesset, has alleged that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking another election to cling to power, urging opposition parties to thwart his plans by forming a government led by Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot.
In an exclusive interview with Turkish news agency Anadolu, Tibi said he believes Netanyahu intends to remain at the helm of a caretaker government while preparing to launch another war against Iran in coordination with US President Donald Trump.
"I think Netanyahu wants another election. For now, he wants to remain prime minister of the caretaker government," he 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.
Tibi urged opposition parties to move swiftly and decisively to prevent Netanyahu from carrying out that scenario.
"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," he said.
He stressed that the Joint Arab List does not intend to join a new government but is prepared to facilitate its formation through understandings with opposition parties.
"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 addressing the needs of their communities in exchange for providing parliamentary support.
"The most important thing for us now is to bring down this government," he added.
He expressed hope that opposition leaders would overcome their differences and end internal disputes following Tuesday’s parliamentary elections.
Arab turnout 'blocked Netanyahu's plans'
Tibi described the high turnout among Arab voters as a major political achievement that prevented Netanyahu from securing another parliamentary majority.
"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," he said.
"Netanyahu cannot form a government. Itamar Ben-Gvir will never be police minister again," he added.
Tibi said the participation of Arab voters had also prevented far-right politicians, including Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, from returning to power.
"This is an achievement for our politically aware Arab public, which acted with great political wisdom and responsibility," he said.
He urged Arab lawmakers to use their electoral gains to help establish an alternative government.
"We all want to use this trust, these votes and these seats to contribute to bringing down Netanyahu’s government and making way for another, less harmful alternative government," he said.
Rejects allegations of election fraud
Tibi accused Netanyahu and his political allies of conducting a campaign against Palestinian-Israeli voters following the election.
"Netanyahu is conducting an open campaign against Arab voters for all to see," he said.
He rejected allegations from Netanyahu’s political camp that Palestinian-Israeli voters had engaged in election fraud.
"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," Tibi said.
He pointed to the corruption charges against Netanyahu and criminal investigations involving other government officials.
Tibi said Palestinian-Israeli voters had participated in large numbers despite physical difficulties, citing elderly people and people with disabilities who made their way to polling stations.
He accused Netanyahu’s political camp of seeking to discourage Palestinian-Israeli participation to remain in power.
"They want Arabs not to vote so they can continue governing. Our votes brought down their plans," he said.
Tibi also alleged that the campaign was intended to delay the publication of official election results and prevent the replacement of Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana.
He said he was reassured by the Central Elections Committee’s position that the allegations would not affect the publication of the results.
Responds to Netanyahu over Qatar visit
Asked about a social media post in which Netanyahu questioned why he had traveled to Qatar two days before the elections, Tibi dismissed the criticism.
"Netanyahu posted a tweet asking why Ahmad Tibi traveled to Qatar and published a picture of me at Al Jazeera," he said.
"It is clear to everyone that I gave an interview watched by millions on Al Jazeera and returned quickly. If I am invited again, I will go and participate. Anyone who does not like that can deal with it."
He reiterated that Netanyahu was "the last person" qualified to lecture others about honesty and integrity.
Open to coordination with other Arab parties
Tibi said the Joint Arab List was open to coordinating with the United Arab List (Ra’am) led by Mansour Abbas to facilitate the formation of an alternative government.
"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.
He also dismissed the possibility that Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, would abandon the opposition bloc.
"I don’t think so, but this is always Lieberman’s behaviour after elections. He is trying to pressure Eisenkot and the change bloc to secure a period as prime minister," Tibi said.
He criticised Lieberman’s apparent distancing from the opposition following the election as irresponsible.
"I heard him say he does not want to sit with Bibi (Netanyahu) or Tibi. I say that’s right, because I don’t want to sit with Lieberman either," he added.
Election leaves blocs short of majority
The interview came after Tuesday’s parliamentary elections left neither Netanyahu’s bloc nor the opposition parties with enough seats to form a government independently.
According to the latest results, Netanyahu’s bloc secured 53 seats, opposition parties 48 and Arab parties 19 in the 120-member Knesset.
A parliamentary majority requires at least 61 seats, placing Arab parties in a potentially pivotal position in negotiations over forming the next government.
Israel’s Central Elections Committee announced on Thursday that counting of special ballots had been completed, with the official final results to be released later.
President Isaac Herzog is expected to consult parliamentary factions after receiving the official results before assigning a lawmaker the task of forming a government.
