Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces an increasingly difficult battle to retain power after the country’s Arab-led political alliance agreed to back opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot, giving him recommendations from 67 members of parliament and putting him ahead in the race to form the next government.
The Joint List announced on Thursday that it would formally recommend Eisenkot to President Isaac Herzog, adding its 11 lawmakers to the eight members of the Arab-led Ra’am party who had already backed his candidacy.
The combined support takes Eisenkot’s recommendations to 67 in the 120-member Knesset, crossing the 61-seat threshold required for a parliamentary majority.
The development marks a significant shift in Israel’s post-election political calculations. Netanyahu’s Likud-led bloc secured 53 seats in the October 27 election, while the opposition alliance led by Eisenkot won 48. The two Arab-led formations secured a record combined 19 seats.
Although Eisenkot has emerged with the backing of a parliamentary majority, the endorsements do not automatically translate into a governing coalition. Some of the parties supporting him may prefer to remain outside the government while helping him secure parliamentary backing.
Arab Parties Become Decisive Players in Netanyahu’s Political Battle
The Joint List’s decision reflects an increasingly assertive approach by Arab political representatives, who have traditionally occupied a marginal position in Israeli coalition negotiations.
The alliance said its recommendation was a response to public demands to prevent Netanyahu and his government from returning to power.
It also argued that supporting Eisenkot was necessary to widen the gap between him and Netanyahu, despite concerns about the opposition bloc’s willingness to confront anti-Arab rhetoric and recognise the political legitimacy of Arab citizens.
The election produced a record result for Arab-led parties, with the Joint List winning 11 seats and Ra’am securing eight.
Arab voter participation also increased substantially, reaching approximately 80%, compared with much lower participation in the previous election cycle.
The result has transformed the political arithmetic in the Knesset. Neither of the two main Jewish political blocs secured enough seats to govern independently, leaving Arab representatives with substantial influence over the government formation process.
For the Joint List, the immediate objective is to prevent Netanyahu’s return rather than necessarily become part of Eisenkot’s government.
Its leadership has indicated that it could support an opposition-led administration from outside the coalition.
Eisenkot Faces a Dilemma Over Cooperation With Arab Parties
Eisenkot’s position presents a political contradiction. While recommendations from Arab lawmakers have strengthened his prospects of receiving the mandate to form a government, he and other opposition figures have previously resisted forming a coalition dependent on Arab parties.
The issue is politically sensitive because Netanyahu and his allies have repeatedly portrayed cooperation with Arab-led parties as unacceptable.
Eisenkot must therefore decide how to use the parliamentary support without alienating sections of his own political alliance.
Ra’am, led by Mansour Abbas, and the Joint List, headed by Yousef Jabareen, have different political positions and demands. Their support does not necessarily mean they will participate in a common governing arrangement.
The Arab parties have also raised domestic issues, including crime in Arab communities, housing, municipal funding, education and discrimination.
Their increased parliamentary influence could give them greater bargaining power over these matters, even if they remain outside the cabinet.
Netanyahu’s Bloc Falls Short as Coalition Partners Withhold Support
Netanyahu’s difficulties have also increased because of uncertainty among some of his traditional political partners.
The ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party declined to recommend him during consultations with President Herzog, further weakening his position.
The prime minister’s Likud remained the largest individual party, with 27 seats, but the broader nationalist and religious coalition secured only 53.
Netanyahu has also questioned the integrity of the election, raising allegations of irregularities involving Arab political groups. Israel’s Central Elections Committee, however, has said that suspicions under investigation do not undermine the overall integrity of the election results.
The political dispute has added another layer of uncertainty to the government formation process.
What Happens Next in Israel’s Government Formation?
President Isaac Herzog is conducting consultations with representatives of the parties elected to the 26th Knesset. He must decide which candidate has the best chance of assembling a functioning government.
The president is expected to make his decision by November 11.
The candidate receiving the mandate will have 28 days to form a government, with the possibility of a 14-day extension.
If Eisenkot receives the mandate, his immediate challenge will be converting parliamentary recommendations into an arrangement capable of surviving confidence votes and legislative negotiations.
Netanyahu could still attempt to negotiate with smaller parties or explore a broader unity government, but the latest endorsements have complicated his efforts.
The outcome will also have implications for Israel’s domestic and foreign policy, including the government’s approach to the Palestinian issue, the war in Gaza, relations with Arab citizens and regional security.
For now, the biggest change is that Arab-led parties have moved from being peripheral participants in Israeli coalition politics to playing a decisive role in determining who gets the first opportunity to form the next government.