Balad leader blasts ‘racist’ exclusion of Arab parties in Israel
Summary
Balad leader Sami Abu Shehadeh accused Israeli political leaders of racism for ruling out coalitions with Arab parties, which were projected to win a record 19 seats. With neither main bloc near the 61 seats needed to govern, Arab parties could influence coalition talks, but opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot and his allies have signaled they want a Zionist government without them.Key Facts
- Palestinian citizens of Israel make up about one-fifth of the country’s population.
- With 85 percent of the vote counted, the Central Elections Committee put Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc at least at 53 seats and Gadi Eisenkot’s opposition bloc at 48.
- A party or bloc needs 61 seats to form a government.
- Arab parties were projected to win a record 19 seats.
- Abu Shehadeh leads Balad, one of the three parties in the Joint List, and was not a candidate in the election.
- The elections committee voted to disqualify Abu Shehadeh after far-right Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir accused him of supporting the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.
- Abu Shehadeh withdrew in October after Supreme Court justices appeared likely to uphold his disqualification.
- Former Israeli ambassador Danny Ayalon said Arab parties could have significant influence, while noting that an opposition alliance with them would require difficult political negotiations.
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