Israel’s political landscape remains in a state of flux following last week’s general elections, as Arab-led parties have moved to back opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot. This strategic shift serves to further challenge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s prospects of forming a new government. The Arab parties, comprising the Joint List and Ra’am, secured a record-breaking 19 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, providing a potential pathway for the opposition to establish a governing majority.
The current legislative math leaves both major Jewish blocs struggling to reach the 61-seat threshold required for a majority. Netanyahu’s coalition of conservative and far-right parties won 53 seats, while the opposition bloc, led by the former military chief and Yashar party head Gadi Eisenkot, secured 48 seats. By aligning with the Arab-led groups, the opposition aims to avoid a prolonged period of political deadlock that could trigger yet another round of national elections.
Despite this potential collaboration, the path forward is fraught with obstacles. Opposition leaders, including Eisenkot, had previously pledged to avoid forming coalitions with Arab parties to maintain appeal among their core Jewish voters. Furthermore, Netanyahu and his Likud party have launched a campaign targeting the potential alliance, labeling the cooperation as “dangerous to Israel.” This rhetoric follows a contentious election period during which Netanyahu alleged, without providing proof, that Arab parties engaged in electoral fraud with foreign support.
Election officials and state institutions have sought to maintain confidence in the results. Central Elections Committee head Noam Sohlberg stated that even if specific allegations of bribery involving political activists were substantiated, they would not undermine the integrity of the overall electoral outcome. Public tension remains high, with demonstrators gathering outside Eisenkot’s residence in Herzliya to protest the possibility of a Jewish-Arab governing alliance.
The Arab parties’ influence has grown significantly following a sharp increase in voter turnout, which reached approximately 80 percent. Ra’am, led by Mansour Abbas, won eight seats, while the Joint List, led by Yousef Jabareen, secured 11. Jabareen recently indicated that his party is prepared to cooperate with the opposition to remove Netanyahu and other extremist government figures from power, though he clarified that this does not necessarily mean joining an Eisenkot-led government as a formal coalition member.
For the opposition bloc, the decision to accept support from Arab parties involves navigating a polarized electorate. Leaders must weigh the political necessity of securing a majority against the risk of alienating segments of the public. Analysts suggest that any path to power will likely require significant compromises from all sides, potentially breaking promises made during the campaign. The history of such alliances is limited; only one Arab party, Ra’am, has previously served in a governing coalition, during a tenure that lasted less than two years starting in 2021.
As negotiations continue, the marginalized status of Israel’s Arab minority remains a central theme. The community has faced increased political sidelining since the October 7 Hamas attacks. Several lawmakers have faced temporary arrests for remarks critical of the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the occupation of the West Bank. How these parties reconcile their role in a potential “Change” bloc government with the demands of their supporters and the pressure from the broader Israeli public will be a critical factor in the days to come.
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