Tibi to Eisenkot: We won't join government

Assessment

Ahmad Tibi's refusal to join an Eisenkot-led government signals that any coalition built around the former IDF chief would lack Arab party backing from the start. Tibi's offer to support replacing the Knesset Speaker suggests tactical cooperation is possible, but only on specific parliamentary moves, not on entering the government itself. This leaves Eisenkot with a narrower path to forming a coalition, as he cannot count on the Joint List's seats for a majority. The next question is whether other centrist or right-wing factions will fill that gap or if the door to Arab parties stays permanently closed.