Israel's Arab parties become kingmakers after record seats
Israel's Arab-led parties won a record 19 seats, leaving neither Benjamin Netanyahu nor Gadi Eisenkot with a majority. President Isaac Herzog is deciding whom to task with forming a government, and Eisenkot is expected to have the backing of 67 lawmakers.
IllustrationThe story so far
Arab parties won a record 19 seats in Israel's 120-seat Knesset, up from 10 in the previous election, after a surge in turnout among Arab voters. Neither Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition nor Gadi Eisenkot's rival bloc secured a majority, leaving Arab-majority parties in a position to help form government.
Right-wing protesters in Haifa called for a government without Arab parties and new elections, citing alleged fraud tied to Qatar funding. Gadi Eisenkot said Netanyahu failed to discredit the results and that his government had no majority. Leaders of the opposition bloc were to meet in Herzliya to coordinate next steps, and all parties in the camp endorsed Eisenkot for prime minister.
Israel's election commission certified the parliamentary vote after finding no fraud, saying a review of 9,069 polling stations found no irregularities that compromised the results. President Isaac Herzog accepted the certified results and began consultations on who should form the next government. The Arab-led Joint List said it would recommend Eisenkot, giving him expected backing of 67 lawmakers, while Netanyahu's bloc won 53 seats and Eisenkot's bloc 48.
Latest updates
9 updates · newest first- 5 NovNew development
Israel's Joint List backs Eisenkot to form government
Israel's Arab-led Joint List said Thursday it will recommend Gadi Eisenkot to form the next government, giving him the expected backing of 67 lawmakers in the 120-seat Knesset. The decision follows a recommendation from Ra'am and comes after Arab-led parties won a record 19 seats, while Netanyahu's bloc won 53 and United Torah Judaism declined to recommend him. President Isaac Herzog is deciding whom to task with forming a government.
Al Jazeera ↗
Middle East Eye ↗
France 24 ↗
- 5 NovNew development
Herzog begins talks to form Israel government after election
Israel's President Isaac Herzog accepted the certified results of last week's election and began consultations on who should form the next government. Netanyahu's bloc won 53 seats and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot's bloc 48, leaving both short of the 61 needed to govern. Arab-led parties won a record 19 seats, and Ra'am said it would recommend Eisenkot, whose support could reach 56.
- 4 NovNew development
Israel certifies election results after commission finds no fraud
Israel's election commission certified last week's parliamentary vote after finding no fraud, a blow to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's claims that Arab-led parties stole the election. The committee said a review of 9,069 polling stations found no irregularities that compromised the results. President Isaac Herzog will consult parties to choose a candidate, likely Netanyahu or opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot, to form a government.
Euronews ↗
- 3 NovNew development
Israeli opposition unites behind Eisenkot after inconclusive election
Israel's opposition is set to meet for the first time since last week's closely contested election, with all parties in the camp endorsing Gadi Eisenkot for prime minister. Eisenkot's bloc won 48 seats, while incumbent Benjamin Netanyahu's camp secured 53, with Arab-majority lists winning a record 19 seats. Netanyahu has called for a broad coalition government under his leadership, ruling out a coalition with Arab-majority lists.
NPR ↗
- 2 NovNew development
Israeli opposition leaders to meet Tuesday on coalition
Leaders of Israel's main opposition bloc will meet in Herzliya on Tuesday to discuss and coordinate next steps after last week's legislative elections, the Yashar party said. The party of bloc leader Gadi Eisenkot said the leaders will try to form a majority.
- 2 NovOfficial statement
Joint List leader says Israel has historic chance to change direction
Yousef Jabareen, head of Israel's Joint List, said he is ready to join the Change bloc to oust Benjamin Netanyahu's government after Arab-led parties won a record 19 seats. Turnout among Arab Israelis, about 20% of the population, more than doubled to about 80%, while Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza had no vote. President Isaac Herzog is due to summon leaders as early as Wednesday to ask who should get the first chance to form government.
The Guardian ↗
- 2 NovOfficial statement
Eisenkot says Netanyahu failed to discredit Israel's election results
Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his party failed to discredit Israel's election results. He called the results clear and unequivocal and urged Israelis to ignore the background noise. Eisenkot said the people are sovereign and that Netanyahu's government has no majority and has lost.
- 2 NovNew development
Right-wing Israeli protesters demonstrate in Haifa against Arab parties
Right-wing Israeli protesters demonstrated in Haifa, calling for a government without Arab parties and for new elections. They cited allegations of electoral fraud allegedly facilitated by funding from Qatar.
- 31 OctNew development
Israel's Arab parties become kingmakers after record 19 seats
Arab parties won a record 19 seats in Israel's 120-seat Knesset, up from 10 in the previous election, after a surge in turnout among Arab voters. Neither Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition nor Gadi Eisenkot's rival bloc secured a majority, leaving the Arab-majority parties in a position to help form government.
ABC Australia ↗