Will Arab Parties Hold the Key to Netanyahu’s Political Future?

News Desk

Tel Aviv: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing a difficult path to securing another term in office after parliamentary election results left both the ruling coalition and opposition short of the majority required to form a government. With Arab parties holding 19 seats in the 120-member Knesset, their support could prove decisive in determining the country’s next government.

According to Israeli media reports, a minimum of 61 seats is required to secure a parliamentary majority. Netanyahu’s coalition has secured 53 seats, while opposition parties have collectively won 48. Arab parties, meanwhile, have obtained 19 seats, placing them in a potentially influential position during government formation.

Netanyahu’s Likud party emerged as the largest single party with 27 seats but will need support from other political groups to secure a parliamentary majority.

The counting of special ballots, commonly known as double-envelope votes, has also been completed. These ballots included votes cast by military personnel, prisoners, diplomats serving abroad and patients receiving treatment in hospitals. Their inclusion did not change the overall distribution of parliamentary seats.

Among the other political groups, Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party secured 21 seats, while Be-Yachad won 12 and the Joint List obtained 11. The Democrats and Ra’am each secured eight seats. United Torah Judaism, Yisrael Beiteinu and Otzma Yehudit won seven seats apiece, while Shas and Religious Zionism secured six each.

Meanwhile, the election results have triggered controversy, with allegations of foreign interference, vote-buying and the mobilisation of Arab voters becoming major issues in Israeli politics.

Netanyahu’s Likud party has alleged that Arab political groups benefited from vote-buying and the use of illegal transportation arrangements to bring voters to polling stations. Describing the alleged irregularities as serious electoral violations, the party has claimed that the election was “stolen.”

Israel’s domestic intelligence agency, Shin Bet, is investigating claims that Arab voters were mobilised through foreign funding allegedly linked to Qatar and Turkey. Lahav 433, a specialised investigative unit of the Israeli Police, is also examining allegations of bribery.

However, the accusations have not been substantiated. Election Committee Chairman Noam Sohlberg reportedly approached Shin Bet to investigate the claims of foreign interference. Nevertheless, the committee’s acting Director-General has said there is no evidence of systematic irregularities in the electoral process. Qatar has also rejected allegations of interfering in Israel’s elections.

Opposition leaders, meanwhile, have cautioned against questioning the election results or the participation of Arab citizens in the democratic process on the basis of unverified allegations.

With neither political bloc securing a clear majority, attention has shifted to whether Netanyahu can persuade additional parties to join his coalition or whether opposition groups will attempt to establish an alternative government with the backing of Arab parties.

However, cooperation with Arab political groups could present a significant political challenge for some Jewish parties, potentially complicating efforts to build a viable governing alliance.

Following the formal ratification of the election results, Israel’s president will appoint a member of parliament to attempt to form a government. If no political leader succeeds in securing the required parliamentary support, the country could face another round of elections.