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Arab coalition chief says his bloc will join opposition to topple Netanyahu after election
Reported by Imran Qureshi (Staff Writer) · Indian Express - World ·
Reported by one source so far
Photo: Wikimedia CommonsArab coalition leader Yousef Jabareen announced his readiness to join the opposition Change bloc in a bid to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after last week’s election. Netanyahu’s coalition fell from 68 to 53 seats in the 120‑member Knesset, while the Change bloc led by retired General Gadi Eisenkot secured 48 seats. Arab parties captured a record 19 seats, giving them the balance of power. Turnout among Arab Israelis – 20 % of the population – more than doubled to about 80 %, roughly 840,000 voters. Jabareen, a 54‑year‑old former law professor who heads the Hadash party, told The Guardian from his family home in Umm al‑Fahm that the first demand of Arab voters is the removal of Netanyahu’s government, especially far‑right ministers Itamar Ben‑Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. He described the past four years as “hard for Arab communities”, citing house demolitions, unchecked criminal gangs, under‑funded schools and attacks on Arabs, and called the moment “historic”. Eisenkot has ruled out a unity government with Netanyahu and set three conditions for any Arab partnership: recognition of Israel as a Jewish state, acceptance of compulsory national service (civil or military), and labeling Hamas a terrorist organisation. Islamist party Ra’am (8 seats) and its leader Mansour Abbas say they are ready to join; the Joint List (11 seats) will not. Jabareen warned that the 67 Knesset members opposed to Netanyahu could seize parliamentary control before a government forms, starting with replacing the speaker and overturning recent laws that weakened court independence. He also urged an end to the Gaza war and a restart of talks with Palestinian leaders, while rejecting Netanyahu’s unfounded claim of illegal Qatari funding for Arab parties.
Context
Arab parties now hold the swing votes that will decide whether a right‑wing or a centrist coalition can form, a situation that could reshape Israeli politics and the treatment of Arab citizens.
ExplainerWhy this matters
What Happened
The recent Israeli election left no party with a clear majority. Netanyahu’s bloc dropped to 53 seats, the Change bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot secured 48 seats, and Arab parties won a historic 19 seats, giving them decisive sway.
Why It Matters
Because Arab parties now hold the balance of power, any new government will have to negotiate with them. Eisenkot’s demand that coalition partners recognize Israel as a Jewish state, accept compulsory national service, and label Hamas as a terrorist group sets a new political line that could affect policies on citizenship, defense duties, and Israel‑Palestine relations. Jabareen’s call to remove far‑right ministers and to address systemic inequalities highlights long‑standing grievances of Arab citizens, making the coalition talks a potential turning point for social equity and security policy.
What Happens Next
Eisenkot is likely to seek Arab support that meets his three conditions, while parties like Ra’am have signaled willingness to join. The Joint List’s refusal and Avigdor Lieberman’s opposition could complicate talks. Meanwhile, the 67 anti‑Netanyahu Knesset members may try to take control of parliamentary procedures before a government is formed, aiming to repeal recent laws that reduced court independence. The outcome will depend on whether a coalition can be built that satisfies both the right‑wing demands and Arab parties’ core concerns.
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Photo: Wikimedia CommonsWorldExplainerVerified — Confirmed by a second source: NZ Herald - WorldMajor
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