Katz Warns Against Including Islamist Arab Parties in Next Coalition

Defense Minister Israel Katz warned on Sunday against including Islamist Arab parties in Israel’s next government. He called for broad national agreement against political cooperation with Islamist and nationalist Arab parties that he accused of maintaining ties to Israel’s enemies and seeking its destruction. Katz invoked Egypt’s action against the Muslim Brotherhood, contrasting it with efforts to bring the movement’s allies into an Israeli coalition. He warned of “grave consequences for Israel’s security.” He alleged that the Brotherhood in Egypt was working with Hamas and a Brotherhood umbrella organization in Turkey to foment a revolution against Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Katz also cited American approval of Egypt’s decision and said other Arab countries shared that position. Katz singled out Ra’am chairman MK Mansour Abbas, accusing him of refusing to designate Hamas a terrorist organization. He also alleged ideological ties between Abbas and a project to establish an Islamic caliphate. The warning came a week after President Isaac Herzog tasked Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot with forming a government at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem on November 8. In his speech, Herzog said factions representing 67 MKs had recommended Eisenkot, while 46 recommended Prime Minister and Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu. A seven-member faction recommended neither candidate. Herzog also acknowledged that Likud was the largest faction in the incoming Knesset.