Arab-led parties win 19 Knesset seats after record turnout
Election results in Israel left both major blocs short of a majority, forcing coalition talks where Arab leaders hold the balance of power.
By Scott Marshall ·
Nineteen seats in the 120-member Knesset went to Arab-led parties in the recent Israeli election, a result that stripped Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition of its governing majority. The surge in votes for these parties came after Palestinian citizens of Israel cast ballots in record numbers, a shift that officials say altered the political landscape of the state.
According to the Central Elections Committee, Arab-led parties saw a 64 percent increase in votes compared to the previous election. Neither Netanyahu's right-wing bloc nor the center-right opposition led by Gadi Eisenkot reached the 61 seats required to form a government. This deadlock places the Arab-led parties in a critical position to determine which side secures a mandate for coalition building.
Jamal Zahalka, chairman of the High Follow-Up Committee, described the outcome as a historical achievement for the community. "We blocked the government of Netanyahu from continuing," Zahalka said. He noted that the community found its strength by participating in the vote, reversing a recent trend where many Palestinian citizens stayed home due to feelings of marginalization.
The election results have intensified debates over the role of Palestinian Arabs, who currently make up about 20 percent of Israel's population. In the town of Kufr Qasim, residents gathered to commemorate the 1956 killings of local residents by border police. Speakers and attendees linked the past violence to current conditions, including the war in Gaza that has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians and increased discrimination within Israel since the October 7, 2023 attacks.
Intisar Sarsur, a 65-year-old resident of Kufr Qasim, stated that the community is seeking basic human rights. She observed that nearly every person she knows participated in the election. The turnout has drawn sharp criticism from Netanyahu's allies, with Likud claiming the Arab parties won through bribery and threats, though police and election officials have found no evidence of widespread fraud.
Gadi Eisenkot, the main challenger to Netanyahu, faces a complex path to power. As a former military chief of staff, he is known for the "Dahiyeh doctrine" of disproportionate force. The Joint List, which won 11 of the 19 Arab seats, has said it may back Eisenkot from the outside but will not formally join his government due to the ongoing war and occupation.
President Isaac Herzog is currently consulting with parties to determine who receives the mandate to form a coalition. He is expected to name a candidate next week. That leader will have 28 days to form a government, with a possible two-week extension. If no coalition is formed, the country faces new elections next year.
