Lieberman Backs Arab List Bans as Change Bloc Rifts Deepen
Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman backed the disqualification of Ra'am and Arab lists, reshaping change bloc dynamics. The Democrats leader Yair Golan opposed the sweeping bans.
Internal political struggles within the change bloc surfaced during the Central Election Committee hearings on disqualifying Arab lists and candidates. Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman, suspecting that Gadi Eisenkot might form a minority government supported by Ra'am, has drawn a hard line. Lieberman supported the disqualification of Ra'am, the Joint Arab List, Ofer Cassif, and Sami Abu Shehadeh, reshaping the political dynamics of the bloc.
Lieberman Shifts Right
Lieberman aims to position Yisrael Beytenu as a resolute right-wing party outflanking Likud. "Any Zionist government formed after the elections must define the destruction of Hamas as a core security goal," Lieberman stated. "Any party opposing this has no place in the Knesset." His move to lump Ra'am together with more radical factions has caused discomfort among other leaders in the change bloc who believe Ra'am should not be completely alienated.
Opposition from the Democrats
The Democrats leader Yair Golan was the sole bloc leader to explicitly oppose the sweeping disqualifications. "We, the Democrats, will resolutely defend the right of Arab citizens of Israel to vote, be elected, and participate in leadership," Golan declared. While Golan condemned the blanket bans, he supported the individual disqualification of Balad leader Sami Abu Shehadeh over inflammatory remarks made following the October 7 attacks, maintaining that extremists on both sides must be barred.
