Voters in Northern Israel Wait for Government Amid Political Stalemate
Residents of diverse backgrounds in the Western Galilee express frustration as President Herzog consults on forming a new administration after the October 27 election.
By Connor Murphy ·
Seven days after the October 27 election, residents of the Western Galilee region are facing a political impasse. The area, home to Jewish, Muslim, Druze, and Christian communities, saw high voter turnout, but the lack of a clear winner has left many unsure about the path forward. President Isaac Herzog held consultations in Jerusalem on Wednesday and Thursday to determine who will form the next government.
The six parties opposing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hold 67 of the 120 Knesset seats. All of these parties recommended centrist Gadi Eisenkot to lead the government. In contrast, the right-wing coalition supporting Netanyahu holds 53 seats. A complication arose when United Torah Judaism, an ultra-Orthodox party in the right-wing bloc, declined to recommend any candidate, effectively withholding support from Netanyahu during the consultations with Herzog.
Mayor Mula Mula of Yarka, a Druze town, expressed disappointment with the current state of affairs. Mula, a Likud member and former IDF lieutenant colonel, stated that the elections should have united the nation. He argued that the Arab-majority Joint List and Ra'am parties, which hold 19 seats combined, should be included in the government. Mula noted that while these parties did not field Druze candidates, they represent a significant portion of the population that voted in record numbers.
Mula urged Eisenkot and Netanyahu to form a broad unity government. He specifically suggested excluding far-right ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, citing their past behavior toward Arab citizens. "Ben Gvir and Smotrich did a lot of damage with their behavior and words against Arabs," Mula said. He welcomed a group of Georgian folk dancers to Yarka City Hall, telling them that the town's 18,000 citizens are growing stronger despite recent challenges.
Other residents shared concerns about the political deadlock. Firielle Amar, a Druze resident, worried that without a strong government, Druze interests might be overlooked by Arab parties. She noted that her community voted for Likud partly to show gratitude for support during the July 2025 conflict in Sweida, Syria, where approximately 2,000 Druze were killed. Amar stated that the only common agreement among Arab voters is that Ben Gvir will not be part of the next government.
In Nahariya, a mostly Jewish town 20 kilometers away, residents expressed fear of further instability. Shlomit Grantz, who sat at a cafe, said that new elections would lead to chaos. She emphasized the need to maintain Israel's Jewish character. Diego Janower, who voted for Yisrael Beytanu, described the current situation as a glitch. He hopes for a unity government involving Netanyahu, Liberman, and Eisenkot to provide strength to the nation.
Amir Awad, a lawyer in the predominantly Muslim town of Mazra'a, called the election the most fateful for the Arab sector in Israeli history. Awad, who voted for Ra'am, said Arab citizens shifted from boycotting the ballot box to actively using their democratic rights out of distress. He noted that the political establishment seems reluctant to include Arab parties in the coalition despite their 19 mandates. Awad stated that Arab Israelis make up 20 percent of society and want to be partners in repairing the country rather than being pushed to the sidelines.
