ARAB PARTIES EMERGE AS KINGMAKERS IN ISRAEL AFTER NETANYAHU’S BLOC FAILS TO SECURE MAJORITY

October 30, 2026

JERUSALEM, OCTOBER 30, 2026: Israel's latest parliamentary election has produced an uncertain political landscape, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud-led coalition falling short of the majority required to form the next government. Arab political parties, holding a combined 19 seats in the 120-member Knesset, have emerged as potentially decisive players in the coalition negotiations.

The final results show that Netanyahu's bloc secured 53 seats, while the four principal opposition parties won 48. The remaining 19 seats went to Arab political groupings, comprising the Joint List with 11 seats and Mansour Abbas's Ra'am party with eight. A minimum of 61 seats is required to command a parliamentary majority.

The election outcome has placed Arab parties at the centre of negotiations over the formation of the next government. Ra'am, which previously participated in the Bennett-Lapid coalition in 2021, is considered a potential partner for an alternative government. The Joint List, comprising Hadash, Ta'al and Balad, has indicated that it could support an opposition-led administration from outside the governing coalition.

However, cooperation remains uncertain. Opposition leaders are divided over whether to rely on Arab parties for parliamentary support. Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Lieberman has reportedly opposed such an arrangement, while The Democrats leader Yair Golan has supported cooperation with Arab political groups. Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, has also begun discussions with other opposition figures.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu has not abandoned his efforts to form the next government. His Likud party emerged as the largest individual party with 27 seats, and he could explore alternative coalition arrangements, including a broader unity government.

The final results are scheduled to be submitted to President Isaac Herzog on November 4. Following consultations with political parties, the President is expected to assign a candidate the mandate to form a government. The newly elected Knesset is scheduled to convene on November 10.

If negotiations fail to produce a government within the prescribed period, Israel could face another general election, prolonging the country's political uncertainty.