Record turnout for Israel's Arab voters reshapes coalition math
With no majority in the Knesset, 19 seats held by Arab-led parties now determine which leader forms the next government.
By Daniela Ortega ·
Palestinian citizens in Israel turned out to vote in record numbers during the recent election, altering the balance of power in the Knesset. This surge in participation denied Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition a majority and handed Arab-led parties the leverage to decide the next government.
According to the Central Elections Committee, Arab-led parties secured 19 of the 120 total seats. Their vote share increased by 64 percent compared to the previous election. Neither Netanyahu's bloc nor the center-right opposition led by Gadi Eisenkot reached the 61-seat threshold required to form a government. This has made the Arab-led parties a critical factor in the upcoming coalition negotiations.
Jamal Zahalka, chairman of the High Follow-Up Committee, described the outcome as a historical achievement. He stated, "We blocked the government of Netanyahu from continuing. It's a historical achievement. I think our community found its strength." In Kufr Qasim, residents attributed the high turnout to a desire to protect basic rights amid rising discrimination since the October 7, 2023 attacks.
The election results have intensified tensions within the Israeli political right. Netanyahu labeled the turnout an emergency on social media, while National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir urged voters to ensure the state remained Jewish and Zionist. Likud officials claimed the Arab parties had stolen the election through bribery and forgery, though police and election officials have found no evidence of widespread fraud. The head of the elections committee requested a security review of suspected foreign funding for the turnout campaigns.
Gadi Eisenkot, whose son was killed in Gaza, faces a difficult path toward partnership. He is a former military chief of staff known for the Dahiyeh doctrine, which advocates for disproportionate force against militant areas. The Joint List, which won 11 of the 19 seats held by Arab-led parties, has said it will not join his government but may support it from outside due to the ongoing war in Gaza. The conservative Islamist party Ra'am campaigned for a governing role and placed a Jewish former police official second on its list.
President Isaac Herzog is currently consulting with parties to determine which candidate will receive a mandate to form a government. He is expected to make that decision next week. The designated leader will have 28 days to form a coalition, with the option for a two-week extension. If no government is formed, a second candidate will have 28 days without an extension, followed by new elections in 2027 if that attempt also fails.
