Lawmaker's Mother Signals Resignation Over Yashar Coalition Plans

Miriam Peretz, a prominent educator and Israel Prize recipient, stated on Thursday that her son Elyasaf Peretz, a newly elected member of the Knesset, intends to resign from parliament if his party leader Gadi Eisenkot forms a governing coalition with Arab-led parties. The declaration was made during an interview with the ultra-Orthodox Radio Kol Berama, where she clarified that the decision rests with her son but reflects a firm stance on coalition politics.

Peretz explained that if the Yashar party joins a government that includes an Arab party, her son has indicated he will step down. She noted that Elyasaf has faced increasing pressure from various sources since joining Yashar, with this pressure intensifying in recent days. The goal of this external pressure is to ensure he does not vote in favor of a government that relies on the support of the Knesset's Arab-led factions.

While expressing her own views rather than speaking as an official representative for her son, Miriam Peretz drew a distinction between cooperation and coalition membership. She stated that she does not object to Eisenkot working with Arab parties in a general sense, but she strongly opposes their inclusion as full members of a governing coalition. Her comments arrive at a critical juncture as Eisenkot navigates internal divisions regarding whether to seek support from these parties to form a stable government.

She elaborated on the implications of such an alliance, stating that she is referring to a scenario where an Arab party sits in the government and makes decisions regarding national defense, military engagements, and the treatment of IDF soldiers. She emphasized that such an arrangement would not occur under the circumstances her son envisions.

Right-wing figures associated with the current government have reportedly been urging Elyasaf Peretz to oppose a minority government backed by Arab parties. They want him to uphold his previous pledges to support a Zionist government and to advance a meaningful military draft law. In response to questions about this pressure, Peretz told the Israel National News outlet that he trusts Eisenkot to make the best decisions for the state and its people.

During an August interview with Israel Hayom prior to the election, Elyasaf Peretz had already ruled out joining a government with non-Zionist parties, specifically mentioning Ra’am. He asserted that such a partnership would not happen even if the world turned upside down. When asked if he would accept a government taking office if Ra’am abstained from the confidence vote rather than joining the coalition, he replied that he would not let that happen either.

Eisenkot has reportedly informed members of his electoral slate that they are expected to follow party discipline. Lawmakers who cannot support a minority government backed by Arab parties may be expected to resign. Eisenkot cited his own previous decision to leave the Knesset after disagreeing with decisions made by Benny Gantz’s Blue and White party as a precedent for this expectation.

Tally Gotliv, a member of the Otzma Yehudit party, suggested an alternative to Peretz. She urged him to remain a lawmaker but leave Yashar and join another faction. Gotliv argued that simply resigning would not stop Eisenkot from relying on Arab parties, as another candidate from Yashar’s list would take the vacant seat. She advised Peretz to defect to prevent the government from relying on parties that she claims seek to abolish Israel’s Jewish character.

Elyasaf Peretz, the fifth of six children born to Miriam Peretz, was elected to the Knesset in the 20th spot on Yashar’s list. The party secured 21 seats in last month’s election. Eisenkot was tasked with forming the government after 67 of the 120 Knesset members recommended him as their prime ministerial candidate. Miriam Peretz became a widely recognized figure in Israel after the deaths of her eldest son Uriel in 1998 and his younger brother Eliraz in 2010, both of whom served in the elite Sayeret Golani unit.