Arab blocs hold key to breaking Israeli electoral deadlock

The outcome of the October 27 elections in Israel has left the path to a stable government unclear, with Palestinian Arab parties now holding a decisive role in forming the next cabinet. Neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc nor the coalition of former military chief Gadi Eisenkot reached the 61 seats required to govern. The 19 seats won by Arab political groups have become the center of political calculations in the Knesset.

The Joint List and Ra’am together claimed those 19 seats. The Joint List secured 11 seats, while Ra’am won eight. This combined strength gives Arab representatives the leverage to determine which coalition can reach the necessary threshold. In a system where Arab parties have historically faced barriers to inclusion, this unified bloc presents a distinct political challenge to the two dominant factions.

Leaders from the major Jewish parties voiced strong opposition to governing with Arab partners during the campaign. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that without action, Israel would face a government led by Mansour Abbas and Ahmed Tibi. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir urged his supporters to vote to keep the country Jewish and Zionist, warning them not to let the Arab parties win. Eisenkot, who positioned himself as a moderate alternative, also stated he did not see an Arab party that accepted his principles.

Despite these public reservations, the electoral math forces a reconsideration of past stances. Eisenkot’s potential allies, including Naftali Bennett and Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman, have previously rejected Arab participation in governing coalitions. The current deadlock may compel these leaders to negotiate with the very parties they campaigned against. The Joint List aims to remove Netanyahu from power and advance social justice, while Ra’am, led by Mansour Abbas, focuses on municipal budgets and socioeconomic equality within Arab communities.

The political structure of Israel presents specific legal hurdles for its Arab minority. Section 7A of the Knesset Basic Law allows candidates to be disqualified for rejecting Israel’s existence as a Jewish and democratic state. The 2018 Nation-State Basic Law further declared that the right to national self-determination in Israel is unique to the Jewish people. These laws have fueled long-standing debates within Palestinian communities about whether to participate in elections or boycott them to avoid legitimizing the system.

Dr. Ramzy Baroud, a journalist and author, notes that the current moment requires a strategic approach. He argues that while some Palestinian movements advocate for boycotts, the immediate threat of Netanyahu’s agenda makes parliamentary disruption necessary. The goal is to slow down the machinery of state policy and potentially remove Netanyahu from power, rather than achieving immediate liberation. This strategy prioritizes disrupting the alliance between Netanyahu, Ben-Gvir, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

The election results have drawn attention from Palestinian communities worldwide, who view the unity of the Joint List and Ra’am as a tactical victory. The parties have set aside factional differences to present a unified front. This convergence of political circumstances has allowed them to influence the direction of Israeli governance despite the rhetorical opposition from mainstream Jewish political parties. The next steps in coalition talks will determine whether this bloc can translate its seat count into actual policy changes.