‘Without the Arabs!’: Israeli politicians urges government excluding Palestinians

Israel First leader Sharren Haskel has demanded a coalition excluding Palestinian-led parties after blaming far-right leaders for boosting Palestinian voter turnout. The former deputy foreign minister accused far-right leaders Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich on X of driving Israel’s Palestinian citizens to vote “in droves to anti-Zionist parties”. She urged rival Jewish parties to form a “broad national government”, adding: “Without the Arabs!” Haskel launched the right-wing party in July after quitting the government over legislation suspending arrests of ultra-Orthodox men who refused military conscription. Israel First campaigns for a Zionist unity government that would rely on neither Arab-led nor ultra-Orthodox parties. Polls before the election placed it below the 3.25 percent threshold required to enter parliament. “I am prouder than ever of the message I fought for,” Haskel said.