Yair Golan, leader of Israel’s Democratic Party, on Wednesday (October 28, 2026) urged the Opposition bloc led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot to form a government in partnership with Arab-led parties to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, highlighting divisions within the opposition over such cooperation.
Ra’am, led by Mansour Abbas, joined the governing coalition formed in 2021 under then-prime minister Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid. That government collapsed in 2022, triggering another election. Mr. Golan called for an end to what he described as racism and fear of political cooperation with Arab citizens. “The voice of an Israeli citizen voting in Taybeh is worth exactly as much as the voice of an Israeli citizen voting in Givat Shmuel. No less. Not approximately. Mr. Golan’s proposal faces resistance from Opposition figures who have ruled out forming a government that includes Arab-led parties. The Opposition remains divided over whether Arab parties should join a governing coalition or support it from outside. Urging Opposition leaders to cooperate with Arab citizens, Mr. We have responsibility. And we have an opportunity to form a government of change in partnership with Israel’s Arab citizens. A government that will serve all Israeli citizens.
Several allies in the Opposition’s “change bloc” have rejected the proposal to include Arab parties in a governing coalition, while some have also ruled out relying on their support from outside. Exactly,” he said, arguing that Arab citizens’ votes should carry the same weight as those of Jewish citizens. “Anyone who tries to erase the voices of Arab citizens is surrendering to Netanyahu and giving up on Israel,” he added. Golan said: “We have a majority.
Arab-led parties have previously played a role in Israeli government formation.
