Israel’s Election Deadlock Hinges on Arab Party Support

A few dozen Israeli right-wing activists demonstrated outside the Herzliya residence of Gadi Eisenkot, a centrist former military chief and leading challenger to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The protesters opposed the possibility that Israel’s next government could cooperate with Arab parties. Demonstrator Viktor Shriki said the protest was meant to reject establishing a Palestinian state in cooperation with Arab and Muslim groups, and he declared that no government should be formed with such cooperation. The demonstration took place amid a contentious election and debate over whether Arab parties might support or join a governing coalition. Netanyahu warned that a government including Arab parties would be “dangerous.” His Likud party, although leading in the vote count, alleged that Tuesday’s election had been “stolen” by Arab parties and called for an investigation. The article notes that Likud did not provide specific evidence for the allegation, while the elections committee said reported irregularities were far less numerous than in previous elections. Netanyahu is seeking to remain Israel’s longest-serving prime minister. Eisenkot, his principal centrist challenger, has not ruled out partnering with Arab parties, but only under certain conditions. These include recognition of Israel as a Jewish state and recognition of Hamas as an extremist group. The report presents the protest, political accusations, and possible coalition arrangements as part of the broader struggle over Israel’s government and the role of Arab parties in it.

Israel’s Arab parties, which won a record 19 seats in the November 2026 election, are expected to support opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot’s bloc in efforts to prevent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from forming another government. Neither major bloc won a majority in the 120-seat Knesset: Netanyahu’s coalition secured 53 seats, while Eisenkot’s opposition bloc won 48. The Joint List won 11 seats and Ra’am won eight after Arab voter turnout rose to about 80 percent. The Arab parties’ support could help Eisenkot overcome the parliamentary shortfall, potentially through a minority government backed from outside the coalition. Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas has said he could join an Eisenkot government if given the internal security portfolio. Joint List leader Yousef Jabareen, by contrast, says his party is willing to vote with the opposition to remove Netanyahu and far-right ministers, but will not join the government while Israel occupies the West Bank. Eisenkot’s bloc has previously set conditions for cooperation, including acceptance of Israel as a Jewish state, support for army conscription, and condemnation of Hamas. This cooperation is politically contentious. Netanyahu has made unsubstantiated claims of election fraud involving Arab parties and has described cooperation with them as dangerous. Israeli election officials said the allegations would not undermine the result, and a court released one suspect while another was placed under house arrest. Demonstrators also protested outside Eisenkot’s home against a Jewish-Arab government. The article notes that Arab citizens have long been marginalized and faced increased political exclusion since October 7, including arrests of legislators over criticism of Israel’s actions and occupation. After results are certified, President Isaac Herzog will consult the elected parties and select the candidate most likely to form a government. The chosen candidate will have 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension. A unity government or defections from Eisenkot’s bloc remain possible, while newly elected parliamentarians are due to be sworn in on November 10.

Israel’s Central Elections Committee chief, Noam Sohlberg, said the country’s election results would remain valid even if suspicions of foreign interference were substantiated. In a video statement on Sunday alongside the heads of the Shin Bet and the attorney general, Sohlberg said such suspicions would not undermine the integrity of the electoral process or the results as a whole. Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu’s Likud party questioned the outcome, alleging without presenting evidence that Arab-led parties had “stolen” votes and received Qatari funding. Qatar rejected the accusations, describing them as a disinformation campaign. Netanyahu’s main opposition, Gadi Eisenkot, accused him of running an organised effort to delegitimise the election results. The article also reports that police released two of three political activists arrested before polls opened. The activists had been carrying envelopes of cash that police said were allegedly intended for voter bribery. One was released under unspecified conditions and another was placed under house arrest. Police said the suspects were connected to the Arab-led Ra’am party, which won eight seats. Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas condemned the arrests as undemocratic and said they were an attempt to influence the election results. The election has produced a parliamentary deadlock. Netanyahu’s bloc won 53 seats, while Eisenkot’s opposition bloc won 48. Three Arab-led parties collectively secured a record 19 seats. An alliance between those parties and Eisenkot could command 67 of the 120 seats, enough for a majority, although cooperation with Arab parties remains politically unacceptable to many Israelis. The results are due to be officially certified during the week. President Isaac Herzog will then nominate a candidate to try to form a government.

Isaac Herzog, Israel’s president, faces the task of helping political leaders form a government after an October 27 election deprived Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of his governing majority but did not give his opponents a clear route to replace him. The article portrays Herzog as a soft-spoken, consensus-minded figure whose style contrasts with Israel’s increasingly combative politics and the decline of the centre-left tradition he represents. Three former advisers told Reuters they expect Herzog to seek the broadest possible government, amid concern that the country’s political turmoil could deepen. Herzog has called on party representatives to approach talks openly and find solutions that would avert another election. Analysts are less certain that the rival camps are willing to compromise. One possible approach, according to political scientist Gideon Rahat, is for Herzog to give the mandate to one of the two leading candidates while privately encouraging Netanyahu’s and Gadi Eisenkot’s parties to consider a unity government. The article traces Herzog’s background: he is the first Israeli president born in the country after its 1948 founding, comes from a prominent political family, served in military intelligence and worked as a lawyer. After entering parliament in 2003 and leading the Labour Party, he lost to Netanyahu in the 2015 election. He became president in 2021, shortly before a coalition ended Netanyahu’s 12-year hold on power, but later presided over Netanyahu’s return to office. Herzog previously hosted compromise talks during mass protests over Netanyahu’s effort to curb the Supreme Court’s powers. The article also notes pressure from US President Donald Trump for Herzog to pardon Netanyahu over corruption charges. Herzog has resisted so far, though experts suggest a possible resolution of the criminal case could feature in negotiations for a unity government. Whether any such arrangement would be accepted remains uncertain.

Israel’s Central Elections Committee chief, Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, said an investigation into alleged foreign funding connected to the recent election would not undermine the vote’s result. The Shin Bet began the inquiry at Sohlberg’s request after claims that the Arab Israeli party Raam received money from Qatar. Both Raam and Qatar deny the allegation. Sohlberg said the election was conducted properly, that any irregularities were under review, and that even confirmed suspicions would not call the integrity of the process or the overall results into question. He also stressed that the investigation must not cast doubt on the Arab community’s vote. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party have accused Arab political groups of having “stolen” the election. Likud said a “dark cloud” would remain over the results until the investigation concludes. Netanyahu’s main rival, Gadi Eisenkot, welcomed Sohlberg’s statement, accusing Netanyahu of trying to delegitimise the results and smear an entire community. Qatar described the funding accusations as “ridiculous and dangerous.” The October 27 election produced no parliamentary majority. Netanyahu’s bloc won 53 seats, while Eisenkot’s camp secured 48; 61 are needed to form a government. Raam and the Joint List together won 19 seats, a significant gain that could make Arab parties pivotal in efforts to form an opposition-led government. Eisenkot is considering whether to accept their support, despite opposition from some potential coalition partners. Analysts of the campaign noted that Netanyahu’s attacks on Arab parties helped spur record turnout among Israel’s Arab minority, which makes up about 20 per cent of the population. Separately, a court released one suspect arrested in a suspected vote-buying case involving Raam, extended another suspect’s police custody, and placed a third under house arrest. Police had said the three were found with envelopes and cash. Raam denied involvement. The judge reportedly cited serious suspicions against the person placed under house arrest, while noting that the case had not strengthened since the arrest; he also criticised police for failing to provide new evidence to justify continued detention of the released suspect.

Israel’s inconclusive election has left both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition and the opposition short of a majority, setting up negotiations that could determine who forms the next government. The opposition, led by former army general Gadi Eisenkot, could reach 67 seats in the 120-member Knesset if it works with Arab parties, which won a record 19 seats. Arab politicians have offered to help end Netanyahu’s government, but relying on their support would be controversial: some potential opposition partners had ruled it out during the campaign, and US Ambassador Mike Huckabee said it would be troubling to include politicians who had not condemned the October 7, 2023 attacks. Formal government-formation steps begin after President Isaac Herzog receives the certified election results on Wednesday. He will consult party leaders before asking a candidate to form a government, who will have 42 days to do so. Herzog has urged parties to find “creative solutions” and avoid a stalemate that could lead to another election. Informal negotiations are already under way, and former prime minister Naftali Bennett has said he will support Eisenkot. Netanyahu has alleged that Arab parties “stole” the election, but election officials and senior authorities said the vote was conducted properly and that its results reflect voters’ wishes. They noted that inquiries into possible wrongdoing would not overturn the overall result. Likud rejected the officials’ statement and continued to question the outcome. A key unresolved question is whether Arab representatives will join a coalition or support a minority government without taking ministerial positions. Meanwhile, speculation that Israel and the United States could resume strikes on Iran after their respective elections has raised concerns that military action might affect coalition negotiations. Opposition leader Yair Golan argued that Netanyahu lacks the moral legitimacy to launch a new campaign while serving as caretaker prime minister, and called for an alternative government to be established quickly.