Why Arab parties may not be the ‘kingmakers’ in this Israeli election
Summary
Exit-poll projections suggest Israel’s Arab-led parties could win a record 17 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, while partial results show no bloc with a majority. Their support could give opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot enough seats to form a majority, but both he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have rejected partnering with the Arab-led lists, limiting their influence.Key Facts
- The Joint List and Ra’am are projected to win a combined 17 seats, a record for Arab-led parties.
- Partial results put Netanyahu’s bloc at 54 seats and the opposition alliance led by Gadi Eisenkot at 49.
- A majority in the Knesset requires 61 seats.
- One reported estimate says an alliance between Eisenkot’s bloc and the Arab-led parties could hold 66 seats.
- Netanyahu and Eisenkot have both rejected the idea of partnering with Arab-led parties, citing a lack of shared values.
- Analyst Ahmed Najar said Eisenkot’s refusal to rely on Arab parties was ideological.
- Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas has indicated he may join an Eisenkot-led government if internal security matters are handled by his party.
- Joint List leaders Yousef Jabareen and Ahmad Tibi said their bloc was prepared to help remove Netanyahu’s government.
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