Netanyahu sought private talks with Palestinian party leader despite public attacks

Mansour Abbas says the prime minister's speech vilifying Palestinian parties put him at risk Caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looks on during a speech on the opening day of the new Israeli parliament in Jerusalem on 10 November 2026 (Ilia Yefimovich/AFP) Published date: 11 November 2026 13:07 GMT | Last update: 12 sec ago The leader of the United Arab List, Mansour Abbas, said on Wednesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had held private talks with him through a close associate, despite publicly branding Palestinian parties "terror supporters who hate Israel". "He was interested in our position on the law barring an indicted lawmaker from serving as prime minister, and whether we really intended to enter a coalition and replace Netanyahu's government," Abbas told Kan public radio. "When it serves his interests, Arab citizens suddenly become legitimate, he becomes 'Abu Yair', and Mansour Abbas becomes a worthy partner in his eyes." The Palestinian-led United Arab List (Ra'am) and the Joint List won a record 19 seats combined, following a surge in turnout among Palestinian voters in Israel, giving them the balance of power. In a speech to parliament on Tuesday evening, Netanyahu said the United Arab List and the Joint List were seeking to end Israel’s existence, adding that the two parties disagreed only on "what kind of state will arise on its ruins". New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters "What is the true goal of these factions?" Netanyahu said. "Is it only to improve the socioeconomic conditions of Arab citizens in Israel? We have no problem with that. But that is not their real goal." Addressing those considering forming a government with Palestinian parties, Netanyahu added: "Don't you understand what they really want to achieve? What their national aspiration is?" Abbas said Netanyahu’s speech had put him and his family in danger. Asked whether he had received threats, Abbas replied: "There are threats from several directions." Nearly 80 percent of Britons see Israel as a threat to world peace Read More » "As a party, we have made peace one of our core principles," Abbas said. "To accuse us of supporting terrorism is simply false and always has been. We are law-abiding citizens." In an interview with Channel 12, Abbas also rejected Netanyahu’s claims about his party’s objectives. "We do not want to establish an Islamist state or an Arab state," he said. "We have defined ourselves as citizens within the State of Israel. We support peace and ending the conflict through a two-state solution." Gadi Eisenkot, the opposition leader tasked by the president with forming a government, described Netanyahu’s speech as "delusional, divisive, hateful and disgraceful". His Yashar party said it had scheduled coalition talks with Netanyahu’s Likud party, but cancelled the meeting following the prime minister’s address. "I sat and listened to the outgoing prime minister's delusional, divisive, hate-filled and shameful speech, exploiting a state occasion," Eisenkot wrote in a post on X. "I am now even more convinced that he is unfit to remain in office for even one more minute." Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.