The Joint List and Ra’am, two Arab-led political groups, are projected to win a combined 19 seats in the 120-member Knesset, Israel’s parliament. Arab-led parties are projected to win a record number of seats in Israel’s parliament. This could give them a stronger position in talks over the formation of the next government.
Partial results show Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc with 54 seats, while the opposition alliance led by Gadi Eisenkot has 49 seats. Neither side has secured the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-member parliament. If Eisenkot’s alliance joins forces with the Arab-led parties, the combined group could cross the 61-seat majority mark. The Times of Israel reported that the partnership could command 66 seats based on the latest partial results.
Because several Jewish-led Israeli parties oppose forming a government with Arab-led groups, observers say their electoral gains may not translate into government power. The election has not produced a clear winner so far. The Arab parties could help the opposition remove Netanyahu from power, but political opposition to working with them remains a major obstacle. However, Arab parties are not yet certain to become kingmakers. There are several possible outcomes if neither major bloc can form a majority. Ghanam outlined four possibilities: another election, a minority government led by the opposition and supported from outside by Arab parties, members of the opposition defecting to Netanyahu’s bloc, or the formation of a national unity government .
Honaida Ghanam, director general of the Palestinian Forum for Israeli Studies in Ramallah, said this political exclusion limits the ability of Arab citizens to turn their votes into influence over government decisions, as quoted by Al Jazeera.
