Netanyahu asks if Eisenkot would "place the fate of our country into their hands" via Arab parties

When Israel’s newly elected parliament met Tuesday, opposition parties holding a majority introduced bills to investigate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of events around the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack, reverse legislation that sought to curb court authority and cap the premier’s tenure. The quote arose as Netanyahu responded to the prospect that retired general Gadi Eisenkot, whose bloc is 13 seats short of a majority and has about six weeks to build a coalition, might rely on the Joint List and Ra’am. Those Arab parties hold 19 seats and offered support, but Eisenkot set conditions and some allies rejected partnering with Palestinian Israelis. Netanyahu, interim prime minister, accused the Arab parties of backing terrorism and warned such an arrangement would endanger the Jewish state; the session was disrupted by confrontations. The fight affects coalition formation and scrutiny of Netanyahu.