Ankara:Israeli lawmaker Ofer Cassif announced that the Joint List is committed to removing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government in the general elections scheduled for October 27. Cassif, representing Hadash, a part of the Arab-Jewish political alliance Joint List, expressed determination to oust what he described as a "fascist government."

According to Anadolu Agency, Cassif raised concerns about whether the elections would proceed as planned, suggesting that Netanyahu and his coalition might provoke regional conflicts to delay or cancel the vote. He warned that potential escalations in the West Bank or other neighboring regions could serve as a pretext for postponing the elections or enhancing the coalition's electoral strength.

Cassif also addressed a recent Israeli Supreme Court ruling allowing the Joint List to participate in the election. He emphasized that voting rights are fundamental and criticized attempts to bar Arab candidates. The court overturned a decision by the Central Elections Committee, enabling Cassif and the Joint List to run, although Cassif condemned the exclusion of Balad party leader Sami Abu Shehadeh.

The lawmaker suggested that efforts to disqualify Arab candidates might mobilize Palestinian citizens of Israel, potentially increasing turnout and influencing the election outcome. Arab citizens constitute about 20% of Israel's population, and Arab parties are projected to secure 12 to 14 seats in the Knesset. With neither Netanyahu's bloc nor the main opposition expected to secure a majority, Arab parties could play a decisive role.

Cassif stated that while the Joint List aims to remove Netanyahu and his ministers, it would not automatically support an opposition government unless it differed significantly in policy. He highlighted that policies involving annexation or continuation of the current government's approach would prevent their support.

Expressing concern about the growing support for extremist movements among younger Israelis, Cassif attributed this to ongoing incitement against Palestinians and the Israeli left. He called for significant political and social changes to address this trend.

In his concluding remarks, Cassif urged international attention to the situation in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, condemning attacks on Palestinians during the olive harvest and calling for global intervention to stop what he termed "ongoing genocide" and "ethnic cleansing."