Gadi Eisenkot criticised Netanyahu’s treatment of Israel’s Arab citizens.
The former Israeli military chief condemned Netanyahu’s attacks on Arab lawmakers as he seeks to form the next government.
Gadi Eisenkot accuses Netanyahu of fueling a racist campaign against Israel’s Arab citizens for political gain. The former military chief issued the criticism on Friday as he seeks to form Israel’s next government.
His statement followed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech at the opening session of Parliament, known as the Knesset. Netanyahu described Arab lawmakers as “terror supporters” and “haters of Israel.”
Diplomats and analysts condemned those remarks as hatred and incitement against Arab citizens. The community makes up about 20 percent of Israel’s population and voted in large numbers in last month’s inconclusive elections.
Eisenkot accuses Netanyahu of targeting Arab citizens
In his social media statement, Eisenkot said the campaign against Arab citizens began during the election period. He accused Netanyahu and those around him of driving aggressive efforts to undermine the community’s legitimacy for political purposes.
Eisenkot also stressed that Arab citizens form an integral part of Israel’s national story. He argued that attacking an entire community and pushing it to the margins violated principles of responsible national leadership.
He further said such treatment dishonoured Israel’s Declaration of Independence and its values as a Jewish and democratic state. The declaration guarantees equal social and political rights for every citizen, regardless of religion, race or sex.
The criticism placed the treatment of Arab citizens at the centre of Eisenkot’s public challenge to Netanyahu. It also came as the former military chief pursued the task of forming a government after the inconclusive vote.
