Arab parties

The election results are a clear public mandate for a Jewish-Arab government - opinion

The response we encountered in Arab communities was deeply moving. People did not simply express their support. They took the initiative themselves, and convinced others to go out and vote.

|ByALON-LEE GREEN
Members of the joint Jewish-Arab political party, A Place For Us All, Rula Daood, Alon-Lee Green, Sally Abed, Ghadir Hani, Itamar Avneri, and Yonatan Zeigin, at the party launch in northern Israel, Tuesday, June 16, 2026.
United Arab List (Ra’am) party chairman Mansour Abbas stands alongside fellow party members on stage following the release of exit poll results in the northern Israeli city of Sakhnin, on Israel’s general election night, October 27, 2026.

Israel's haredi and Arab voters reject political moderation in 2026 election - opinion

If Israel ends up with a unity government, the country will get moderation whether it voted for it or not. The majority Zionist public will land in the middle for lack of anywhere else to go.

|ByARI TATARKA
Then-head of the National Union party MK Betzalel Smotrich and attorney Itamar Ben-Gvir attend Otzma Yehudit party's election campaign event in Bat Yam on April 06, 2019.

Israel cannot defeat extremism by embracing it - opinion

Israel’s Jewish identity should never be an excuse to deny equality to Arab citizens. And equality for Arab citizens should not require abandoning the Jewish national character of the state.

|ByHALLEL SILVERMAN
Prime Minister and Likud party chairman Benjamin Netanyahu at the Likud party’s election headquarters in Jerusalem, October 28, 2026

By excluding Arab citizens, Netanyahu's rivals may hand him another term - opinion

It is bad enough to discover that Jews can be every bit as racist as anyone else. But where is common sense? Where is political logic?

|ByTOVA HERZL

'He sent them to the polls': Likud activists blame Ben-Gvir for galvanizing Arab voters

Local activists from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party said Ben-Gvir’s aggressive rhetoric and combative statements had failed to deliver electoral gains in southern Israel.

OCTOBER 31, 2026ByYANIR YAGNA, AVI SOLOMON
Otzma Yehudit party chairman and Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, alongside members of his party, at the party’s election headquarters in Modiin, on Israel’s general election night, October 28, 2026.

Opposition bloc considers reviving direct elections without dissolving Knesset to end stalemate

The opposition is considering direct elections for prime minister, reviving Netanyahu's 2021 proposal as coalition negotiations remain deadlocked.

OCTOBER 31, 2026ByMAARIV
An Israeli votes in the 2026 Knesset election, October 27, 2026.

PM's son Yair Netanyahu deems Israeli Arabs 'greatest danger' to Israel besides Iran

The Prime Minister's son, Yair Netanyahu, claimed Israel "cannot survive long-term when 20% of its population identifies with its enemies and wants its destruction."

OCTOBER 30, 2026ByAVI SOLOMON
Yair Netanyahu, son of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, arrives for a court hearing on his request for a restraining order against Haaretz journalist Uri Misgav at the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court in Jerusalem, July 15, 2026.

Israel lost the elections: An open letter to President Isaac Herzog - opinion

Israel does not need you to make everyone agree. It needs you to help ensure that Israelis can continue to live, compete, and govern together even when they do not.

OCTOBER 30, 2026ByJEFFREY KAHN
An AI-generated political cartoon.

Mossad joins Shin Bet probe into alleged Qatar election interference - report

The Mossad is assisting the Shin Bet in investigating whether Qatar funded elements of the Joint List's apparatus, though officials emphasize election results remain unaffected.

OCTOBER 30, 2026ByIDAN KWELLER, AMIR BOHBOT
An illustration of the flags of Israel and Qatar.

Israel's opposition must break its promise, rely on Arab parties to oust Netanyahu - opinion

The opposition should stop overthinking, get out of its own way, thank the Arabs for their support, and get on with saving the country. 

OCTOBER 30, 2026ByDAN PERRY
Ra'am head Mansour Abbas stands alongside fellow party member Yoav Segalovitz in the northern Israeli city of Sakhnin, on Israel’s general election night, October 27, 2026

Netanyahu meets Ben-Gvir, Smotrich as opposition leaders hold coalition talks

Netanyahu met Ben-Gvir and Smotrich as opposition leaders held separate talks. Eisenkot accused Likud of undermining the vote, while Lapid urged patience.

OCTOBER 30, 2026ByANNA BARSKY, NAHUM PERRY
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attending the Knesset, February 7, 2024; illustrative.

Arab Israelis, Palestinians view path to coalition through political clout - analysis

With record representation in the Knesset, Arab voters see a chance to influence Israel’s government and improve their daily lives, but opposition leaders remain divided over accepting their support.

OCTOBER 30, 2026ByGIORGIA VALENTE/THE MEDIA LINE
Arab Israelis cast their ballots at a polling station in Tayibe, central Israel, during Israel’s general elections, October 27, 2026.

Protesters rally outside Eisenkot's home with calls to include Arab parties in coalition

Chanting "There is no change without partnership," protesters gathered outside Eisenkot's Herzliya home, urging cooperation with Arab parties after the opposition fell 13 seats short of a majority.

OCTOBER 29, 2026ByRICHARD OFFENBACHER
Israeli activists demonstrate outside the home of Yashar party chairman Gadi Eisenkot in Herzliya, calling on him to form an alternative government with the support of Arab parties, two days after Israel’s general elections, October 29, 2026

Progressive US Jews call for Israel’s opposition bloc to welcome Arab parties

With neither the Netanyahu nor Eisenkot bloc capturing a majority in Tuesday’s vote, Arab parties could be kingmakers.

OCTOBER 29, 2026BySHARON UDASIN/ JTA
Joint List party chairman Yousef Jabareen and supporters gather at the party’s election headquarters in the northern Israeli city of Nazareth, following the closing of polling stations on Israel’s general election night, October 27, 2026.