Arab Political Parties Emerge as Key Players in Israel’s Government Formation
Israel’s political landscape is facing a significant shift after Arab-led political parties secured an unprecedented parliamentary presence in the country’s latest election. Their willingness to cooperate with Jewish-led opposition parties could become an important factor in determining whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains in power.
Ahmad Tibi, a veteran Israeli Arab lawmaker and senior member of the Arab-led Joint List, has indicated that his political bloc is prepared to support an alternative government. The proposal represents a departure from decades of political exclusion and could change how Arab representatives participate in national politics.
However, the possibility of cooperation comes with serious disagreements. Questions surrounding Israel’s national identity, the war in Gaza, Hamas, and the future of Palestinian territories could complicate negotiations between the political groups.
Ahmad Tibi Signals Willingness to Support Netanyahu’s Opponents
Following the October 2026 Israeli election, Ahmad Tibi announced that the Joint List was prepared to work with Jewish-led political factions seeking to replace Netanyahu’s government.
Rather than necessarily becoming part of a new administration, the Joint List could provide parliamentary support from outside the government. This arrangement could allow opposition parties to benefit from Arab lawmakers’ votes without requiring them to hold ministerial positions.
For Tibi, the proposal represents an opportunity to influence national decisions and improve the political representation of Palestinian citizens of Israel.
The Joint List’s willingness to consider cooperation is particularly significant because Arab-led parties have historically faced difficulties becoming accepted partners in Israeli governing coalitions.
Only one Arab political party has previously participated in an Israeli government. That was Ra’am, which joined the governing coalition in 2021.
Election Results Give Arab Parties Greater Influence
The latest election results have created a parliamentary situation in which Arab-led parties could play a decisive role in government formation.
Netanyahu’s coalition secured 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset, Israel’s parliament. Meanwhile, the opposition bloc led by former general Gadi Eisenkot obtained 48 seats.
The Arab-led Joint List secured 11 seats, while the more moderate Ra’am party won eight seats.
These results make cooperation with Arab representatives potentially important for opposition parties seeking to assemble a parliamentary majority.
Under Israel’s parliamentary system, a government needs the support of a majority of lawmakers. With the existing distribution of seats, opposition parties cannot easily establish an alternative administration without additional parliamentary backing.
The Joint List could contribute by voting in favor of a new government or abstaining during a confidence vote, potentially reducing the number of affirmative votes required under the circumstances.
This means the party could exercise considerable political influence without formally becoming part of the governing coalition.
Why Cooperation Between Arab and Jewish Parties Remains Difficult
Although the parliamentary numbers create an opportunity for cooperation, political differences remain substantial.
Many Jewish Israeli politicians have historically been reluctant to work with Arab-led parties. Some question their positions on Israel’s national identity, security policies, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Joint List is a coalition of three left-wing and nationalist parties. It challenges what it describes as the prevailing Zionist political consensus and supports equal rights for all Israeli citizens.
It also advocates cooperation with Jewish Israelis who support establishing a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza, and east Jerusalem.
These territories were occupied during the 1967 Middle East war and remain central to disagreements surrounding Palestinian statehood and Israeli security.
For some Jewish Israeli politicians, the Joint List’s positions create concerns about whether the party can be trusted as a parliamentary partner during an ongoing period of conflict.
The result is a complicated political situation in which both sides may recognize the importance of cooperation while disagreeing about the conditions under which it should happen.
Palestinian Citizens Represent Around 20% of Israel’s Population
The political influence of Arab-led parties is connected to the broader history of Palestinian citizens in Israel.
During the 1948 war surrounding Israel’s establishment, most of the Palestinian population in what became Israel fled or were expelled. Those who remained received Israeli citizenship, including the right to vote.
Today, Palestinian citizens of Israel and their descendants represent approximately 20% of the country’s population.
Despite having voting rights and parliamentary representation, Arab political parties have frequently encountered resistance when attempting to participate in national governing coalitions.
The latest election results demonstrate the importance of Arab voter participation. Historic turnout helped Arab-led parties secure a record share of parliamentary representation.
For the Joint List, this electoral performance provides an opportunity to pursue greater political influence and raise issues affecting Palestinian communities within Israel.
Gadi Eisenkot Faces a Difficult Decision
Netanyahu’s principal political opponents are led by Gadi Eisenkot, a former Israeli military general who has become a central figure in the opposition movement.
During the election campaign, opposition parties criticized Netanyahu over his handling of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack and his government’s subsequent decisions. They also raised concerns about the country’s democratic institutions.
However, forming a government with Arab political support presents its own challenges for Eisenkot and his allies.
Some members of his political camp support cooperation with the Joint List, while others remain opposed. Their concerns include previous statements by Arab lawmakers regarding Israel’s legitimacy and the country’s security interests.
Consequently, Eisenkot must consider whether parliamentary cooperation is possible without creating divisions within his own political alliance.
Conditions Surrounding Hamas Become a Major Obstacle
One of the most difficult issues involves the position of Arab parties toward Hamas.
Eisenkot has indicated that Arab-led parties seeking a political partnership must satisfy certain conditions. These include recognizing Hamas as a terrorist organization and supporting its destruction.
However, the Joint List has rejected those particular demands. Its representatives have condemned the October 7, 2023, attack and violence against civilians but have declined to characterize Hamas as a terrorist organization or call for its destruction.
They argue that such a position could be used to justify Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
Ahmad Tibi has also distinguished between formally joining a government and providing parliamentary support from outside it. According to his position, conditions intended for parties entering the government should not automatically apply to a bloc offering external support.
This disagreement could become one of the most important obstacles during negotiations.
Ra’am’s Previous Government Participation Offers Another Example
The Ra’am party provides an important example of how Arab political representation can influence Israeli government formation.
In 2021, Ra’am became the first Arab party to participate in an Israeli governing coalition. Its approach was considered more conciliatory than that of the Joint List.
For the latest political negotiations, Ra’am has indicated its willingness to participate in another government seeking to replace Netanyahu.
However, its participation alone may not be sufficient. The opposition would still need the support of the Joint List to establish a viable parliamentary majority.
This creates an unusual situation in which two Arab political groups may support the same broad objective while pursuing different approaches to government participation.
What Could Change if Netanyahu Loses Power?
A new government supported by Arab-led parties could create opportunities to address issues affecting Palestinian citizens of Israel.
Tibi has suggested that a government replacing Netanyahu could focus on improving everyday conditions within Arab communities, including addressing rising violent crime.
However, he has also acknowledged that cooperation with Jewish-led opposition parties would not automatically end the wars involving Israel or establish an independent Palestinian state.
The potential benefits would therefore be more limited than a complete resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
For supporters of the Joint List, parliamentary participation could nevertheless provide a way to influence government decisions, improve public services, and strengthen political representation.
Netanyahu’s Earlier Political Strategy Returns to the Debate
The current negotiations also bring attention to Netanyahu’s long history of opposing political reliance on Arab-led parties.
During Israel’s 2019 election campaign, Netanyahu used the political slogan Bibi or Tibi to warn voters that opposing him could result in Arab-led parties gaining influence over government formation.
At the time, the message was intended to discourage voters from supporting political arrangements that depended on Arab parliamentary representatives.
Following the 2026 election, Ahmad Tibi argued that the circumstances had changed because Arab voters had participated in substantial numbers and secured stronger parliamentary representation.
The political discussion now centers on whether Netanyahu’s opponents are willing to cooperate with the same Arab-led parties that have historically faced resistance from his political camp.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Ahmad Tibi?
Ahmad Tibi is a veteran Israeli Arab lawmaker and senior member of the Arab-led Joint List. He has advocated greater political representation for Palestinian citizens of Israel and has expressed willingness to support a government seeking to replace Benjamin Netanyahu.
2. How many seats did the Joint List win in the 2026 Israeli election?
The Joint List secured 11 seats in Israel’s 120-member Knesset. The result gives the party potential influence in negotiations over forming an alternative government.
3. Can Arab parties help remove Netanyahu from power?
Yes, their parliamentary support could help opposition parties assemble the numbers needed to form a government. However, political disagreements and conditions surrounding security policy, Hamas, and Israel’s national identity could prevent an agreement.
What Happens Next in Israel’s Political Negotiations?
The next important development will be whether Gadi Eisenkot and other opposition leaders can reach an acceptable arrangement with the Joint List and Ra’am.
The parliamentary numbers provide an opportunity for cooperation, but the political conditions remain complicated. Negotiators must determine whether outside parliamentary support can work without requiring Arab parties to abandon positions they consider fundamental.
Observers should pay particular attention to statements from Ahmad Tibi, Gadi Eisenkot, and Ra’am representatives, especially regarding Hamas, government participation, and the future of Palestinian citizens in Israel.
Whether Netanyahu ultimately loses power will depend on the ability of opposition parties to turn their combined parliamentary influence into a workable government. The election has created an opportunity for a different political arrangement, but the negotiations ahead will determine whether that opportunity becomes reality.
Source: Associated Press reporting by Sam Metz, published November 5, 2026. Atlanta+1
