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Thousands Call for Jewish-Arab Coalition in Tel Aviv
Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Tel Aviv to urge the Israeli opposition to partner with Arab parties in an effort to remove Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Participants at the Saturday demonstration described the movement as potentially the final opportunity for significant political transformation, characterizing the country's longest-serving prime minister as a skilled manipulator.
The demonstrations followed a recent electoral deadlock that left neither major bloc with enough seats to form a government independently in the 120-seat parliament. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s bloc secured 53 seats, while the bloc led by main opposition figure Gadi Eisenkot won 48 seats. Meanwhile, three Arab-led parties achieved significant gains, capturing a total of 19 seats.
Election Results and Potential Majority
Data from the Central Election Committee indicated that nearly 840,000 voters supported Ra'am and the Joint List, representing a 64 percent increase compared to the previous elections held in 2022. An alliance between Eisenkot and the Arab-led parties would create a majority of 67 seats in the parliament.
Despite the mathematical possibility of forming a governing majority, partnering with Arab parties remains politically controversial for many in Israel. Gadi Eisenkot has previously rejected the formation of a coalition that includes these parties.
Counter-Protests and Political Reactions
The Saturday demonstrations also drew counter-protesters who supported Netanyahu. These demonstrators voiced opposition to any government involving Arab parties, with participants shouting demands against such alliances.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has publicly accused Palestinian-Israeli parties of manipulating the electoral process and receiving foreign funding from Qatar, an allegation that Qatar has formally rejected as disinformation. Additionally, right-wing political circles have strongly criticized the high voter turnout among Palestinian Israelis, while supporters of the coalition argue that Palestinian-Israeli votes play a crucial role in determining the path forward for the opposition.
Source: Thousands rally in Israel urging ‘Jewish-Arab’ coalition to oust Netanyahu