Channel 14 reported Wednesday evening that a political storm has erupted surrounding a meeting between MK Gadi Eisenkot (National Unity) and Bedouin local council heads in northern Israel, 41 days before elections. The report follows earlier controversy over claims that Eisenkot discussed coalition composition during the meeting, which he denied.
Channel 14 reported Wednesday evening that a political storm has erupted around MK Gadi Eisenkot's (National Unity) meeting with Bedouin local council heads in northern Israel, 41 days before the election. The report follows a day of rapid developments in which Eisenkot first denied and then published documentation to refute claims that he discussed future coalition composition during the meeting.
Earlier this week, journalist Muhammad Majadila reported on Tuesday that Eisenkot met with eight Arab-Bedouin local council heads who expressed support for his prime ministerial candidacy, a move described as a blow to the Ra'am party. On Wednesday afternoon, Channel 14 aired a northern council head's account that Eisenkot told him he does not rule out sitting with Ra'am in a future coalition. Eisenkot subsequently denied the remark and, as The Zioneer reported at 16:45 Jerusalem, released video documentation of the meeting to refute the claim. The council head later told Channel 14 that Eisenkot denied the statement and insisted the conversation was documented.
Channel 14 did not specify what the latest 'storm' entails beyond the report itself. The controversy underscores coalition dynamics as the election campaign enters its final weeks, with Eisenkot's National Unity party positioning itself relative to both the right and the Ra'am party.
4 developments
- StrongNorthern council head: Eisenkot told me he does not rule out Ra'am, then denied the remark
- DevelopingEisenkot and Bennett react to Zini-Bardo meeting affair
- StrongShin Bet chief Zini seeks meeting with PM candidate Eisenkot ahead of possible power transition
- StrongNetanyahu angry after discovering Likud mayors unaware of Eisenkot's Iran stance
Source and signal
- Open-source intake