Arab Parties Win Record 19 Seats, Hold Balance of Power as Netanyahu's Bloc Falls Short
Israel's Arab-majority parties achieved a historic breakthrough in the country's election, winning 19 seats and emerging as potential kingmakers in a deadlocked vote that could end Benjamin Netanyahu's long rule.
Preliminary results show Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud remains the largest single party with 26 seats, but his far-right coalition bloc has fallen short of the 61-seat majority needed to govern [273691]. The opposition bloc, led by former general Gadi Eisenkot, holds 48 seats—also short of a majority [273691].
That leaves Arab-Israeli parties holding the balance of power. The Joint List, a left-wing alliance, won 12 seats—its best result ever—while the moderate Islamist Ra'am party gained two more seats [273691]. Two Arab-majority parties are set to win a historic 19 seats, driven by record voter turnout from the Arab community [273569].
Arab citizens of Israel, about 2 million people or 20 percent of the population, turned out in record numbers [273691][273569]. Their participation likely exceeded the national average of 77 percent, driven by anger over deteriorating conditions under Netanyahu's government, including rising crime in their communities [273691]. Arab voters were angered by the Netanyahu government's ultra-nationalist Jewish vision for the country and the Palestinian territories [273569].
Despite their strong showing, Arab-Israeli parties face a wall of rejection. During the campaign, every Jewish party—including those in the opposition—ruled out cooperating with them, whether to form a coalition or to support a government from outside [273691].
"The fact that no bloc wants these parties means Israel is a racist country; they are discriminating against more than 20% of the population," said historian Meir Margalit, a veteran human rights activist [273691].
Eisenkot's bloc shares only one goal: removing Netanyahu from power. The parties span different ideologies, and none supports an independent Palestinian state or an end to the Israeli occupation [273691]. Only Yair Golan, leader of the centrist Democrats party, has openly called for working with Arab-Israeli parties to unseat Netanyahu [273691].
Joint List leader Yusef Yabarin said on X that change requires "a Jewish-Arab partnership" that is "real and equal." He added: "We are ready and prepared to pave the way for the overthrow of Netanyahu's government" [273691].
Likud has asked police and the Shin Bet security agency to investigate how Arab parties achieved their results, alleging bribery, threats, violence, fraud, and illegal software use. The party filed a complaint with the Central Elections Committee, which said it would review the matter [273691]. The party wrote that "The Israeli election has been stolen by Arab parties" [273836].
The election saw the highest voter turnout in nearly three decades, yet despite this strong public engagement, no clear winner has emerged [273897]. With over 90% of votes counted, Israel's election shows no clear winner, and all signs point to a political impasse [273902].
Margalit doubts a government backed by Arab parties would last. "It wouldn't last long because the Palestinians would demand measures Eisenkot couldn't fulfill, and the government would fall very quickly," he said, warning of political instability [273691].
He also warned that if Arab-Israeli voters see their support ignored, they may lose faith in politics entirely. "I think this will be the last time Arab parties manage to attract so many voters to the polls, if they see that voting is worthless because even when they win so many seats, no one takes them into account" [273691].
Margalit said real change must come from outside pressure—particularly from Europe and the United States—comparing it to the international campaign against South African apartheid [273691].
The uncertainty shook financial markets, pushing Israeli bonds and the shekel lower [273209].