🗳️ Ben-Gvir demands Defense Ministry and outlines migration policy: Pressing Netanyahu over ministerial appointments, Ben-Gvir said: “I will demand to be defense minister, and that Tally Gotliv be given the Justice Ministry.” Segel said Gotliv could not serve as a minister because she had retained her immunity.
Ben-Gvir also said: “I will lead a strategic plan to encourage voluntary migration from Gaza — and from the West Bank.”
Eisenkot responded: “Netanyahu has lost it. We will act to ensure that he does not form a government of draft-dodging and disasters on steroids.”
Benny Gantz said: “We already warned about this in January, and if we don’t wake up now, it will become a reality. We do not entrust our children’s security to extremists.”
🗳️ Eisenkot and Lieberman agree to coordinate election strategy: Yashar! Chairman Gadi Eisenkot and Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman MK Avigdor Lieberman met to discuss coordinating their bloc’s strategy, according to a joint statement. They agreed to continue cooperating and take the necessary steps, in coordination with the bloc’s other parties, to win the elections. Their statement described replacing the government of the October 7 massacre as their overriding commitment.
Yisrael Beiteinu separately said any Zionist government formed after the elections must define Hamas’s elimination as a central security-policy objective, and that any party opposing this has no place in the Knesset. On that basis, the party announced it would vote to disqualify the Joint List, Ra’am, Ofer Cassif and Sami Abu Shehadeh.
Writing the morning after the meeting, Segel described Lieberman’s position as a break with the bloc, highlighting his support for disqualifying Abbas and Segalovich from running for the Knesset.
🗳️ Election committee bars Cassif as parties back Abu Shehadeh’s disqualification: Segel reported that the Central Elections Committee voted by a majority to bar Ofer Cassif from running for the Knesset. He said the decisive test would come at the High Court of Justice.
Sami Abu Shehadeh joined the hearing on his own disqualification via Zoom, with a vote expected shortly. MK Lazimi of the Democrats told Army Radio: “We support disqualifying Abu Shehadeh; his remarks are disgraceful.”
The “Beyachad – Led by Bennett” party said it would vote in the Central Elections Committee to disqualify Abu Shehadeh, citing what it described as his support for the October 7 massacre and established grounds for disqualification.
Explaining his support for the petition filed by Itamar Ben-Gvir, Yair Golan said: “A genuine democratic partnership also requires red lines. The remarks made by Sami Abu Shehadeh just one day after October 7 are serious. Anyone who wants Jewish-Arab partnership does not speak that way, period. Calling for, or legitimizing, armed struggle and harm to civilians—Jews or Arabs—is a red line. The attorney general and state attorney have made this clear as well, and the question of whether his remarks constitute grounds for disqualification will be duly considered by the Supreme Court.
“Our principle, as the Democrats, is simple: the same rule applies to everyone. No exceptions for Abu Shehadeh and no exceptions for Ben-Gvir—both should be disqualified. We will fight Kahanism and extreme Jewish nationalism with the same determination with which we oppose anyone who legitimizes terrorism against Israelis.
“Jewish-Arab partnership—yes. Blanket disqualification—no. Terrorism, Kahanism, and extreme nationalism—no. The same red line for everyone.”
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