Israeli rallies press opposition to seek Arab party backing
Hundreds of Israelis rallied on Saturday, 31 Oct, urging the opposition to work with Arab-majority parties to remove Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Neither bloc won a majority in the 120-seat Knesset after Tuesday's election. Anti-Netanyahu Jewish-majority parties hold 48 seats and two Arab-majority parties hold 19, which together would give a 67-seat majority. Opposition chief Gadi Eisenkot has not decided whether to seek a coalition with Arab parties, and some opposition parties oppose the idea. Right-wing activists held a separate protest in Tel Aviv against cooperation with Arab parties.
Key facts
- Joint List reportedly prepared to back Eisenkot's bloc from outside the government.
- Raam and Joint List plan to tell President Isaac Herzog they back Eisenkot as prime minister.
- Balad's three seats may refuse to recommend Eisenkot, while other Arab parties likely will.
- Raam leader Mansour Abbas previously joined a coalition in 2021 to 2022 and signalled willingness again.
- Joint List member Yousef Jabareen says he will support Eisenkot in parliament without joining government.
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Why it matters
Whether the opposition can form a government depends on Arab parties' support, which some opposition leaders promised during the campaign to avoid.
What changed
First published from The Jerusalem Post, Middle East Eye, Al-Monitor, Bangkok Post and Anadolu Agency