Arab countries preparing for possibility of Eisenkot becoming PM, in talks with his people

Senior officials from Arab countries have been holding discussions with people close to former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot ahead of Israel’s October 27 elections, according to two sources familiar with the talks who spoke to The Jerusalem Post.

The discussions are aimed at preparing for the possibility that Eisenkot could become Israel’s next prime minister after the election.

Arab governments are closely following Israel’s political landscape and the possibility that a new governing coalition could emerge after the votes are counted.

As part of those efforts, officials from several Arab states are seeking to better understand Eisenkot’s political strategy and positions, particularly on issues related to Israel’s ties with the Arab world.

At the same time, senior Arab officials continue to maintain contacts with other potential Israeli political leaders, including Together party chairman Naftali Bennett and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid.

Unlike the contacts with Eisenkot’s allies, however, Arab governments have longstanding relationships with Bennett and Lapid that largely predate their current political roles. Bennett developed ties with several Arab leaders while serving as prime minister, while Lapid built close relationships with Arab governments during his time as foreign minister and later as prime minister.

UAE open about ties to Bennett, Lapid

The United Arab Emirates has been particularly open about its ties with both politicians, publicly sharing photos from their visits to the country, including trips that took place after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formed his current government.

A source familiar with the discussions between Arab governments and Eisenkot, Bennett, and Lapid described the broader approach taken by Arab states, saying that “the countries are in contact with anyone who could potentially become prime minister.”