Will Israeli opposition parties join forces to eject Netanyahu? — SkimNews
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- Netanyahu’s far-right bloc lost 11 seats in Israel’s election, securing only 53 of 120 Knesset seats and falling eight short of a majority.
- Arab parties won a record 19 seats after unprecedented voter turnout among Palestinian citizens of Israel, who faced suppression and racist incitement during the election.
- Gadi Eisenkot’s opposition bloc is projected to win 48 seats and has ruled out coalition talks with Arab parties unless they recognize Israel as a Jewish state and denounce Hamas.
- Mansour Abbas signaled willingness to help bring down Netanyahu, while Ahmad Tibi demanded concrete concessions on Arab communities and Palestinian self-determination in exchange for support.
- Yair Golan urged Eisenkot to overcome fear and racism by partnering with Arab parties, warning that rejecting their support surrenders to Netanyahu’s divisive politics.
- Eitan Tzelgov framed the moment as a binary choice: govern with Arab parties or enable Netanyahu’s return, noting that a split in the opposition could lead to a unity government excluding Arabs.
Why it matters: The Arab parties’ record 19 seats give them decisive leverage in government formation, but resistance from within Eisenkot’s bloc could force a unity deal with Netanyahu instead. This crossroads determines whether Israel shifts course from its current policies in Gaza and the West Bank or entrenches them under a reconfigured coalition.
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