Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Smotrich Calls Arab Coalition Disaster, Sparks Broad Condemnation

5/5/2026

24 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Minister Bezalel Smotrich said a coalition with Arab Ra’am would be a disaster greater than the October 7 Hamas attack.
Arab leader Mansour Abbas and Ra’am condemned the comment as disrespectful to October 7 victims.
Naftali Bennett, Gadi Eisenkot and Yair Golan denounced the remark as a political stunt, while Smotrich clarified his words were distorted and that joining a Hamas-linked government would be the gravest political act.

History

Historical Context

In June 1977 Menachem Begin’s Likud won 43 Knesset seats, ending Labor’s 28-year rule in the Mahapach and forming the first right-wing government with the National Religious Party. That coalition gave religious parties significant ministerial power and reshaped Israeli politics. Today Minister Bezalel Smotrich warns that partnering with the Arab Ra’am party could repeat the disruptive shift feared after the 1977 realignment.

1 of 2

Story summary

Minister Bezalel Smotrich said a coalition with Arab Ra’am would be a disaster greater than the October 7 Hamas attack.
Arab leader Mansour Abbas and Ra’am condemned the comment as disrespectful to October 7 victims.
Naftali Bennett, Gadi Eisenkot and Yair Golan denounced the remark as a political stunt, while Smotrich clarified his words were distorted and that joining a Hamas-linked government would be the gravest political act.

1 / 2