Arab bloc offers support against Netanyahu

Israeli voters just decided to give Arab-led parties a stronger role in the next government, and those parties are now offering a new path to remove Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. They propose supporting a coalition from the outside rather than joining the cabinet, a shift that changes the math for forming a majority in the Knesset.

Ahmad Tibi, a senior member of the Arab Joint List, told The Associated Press that his bloc is ready to break with history. He said, “We want to do things that we did not do in the past in order to remove this criminal government.” This approach would allow Jewish-led opponents of Netanyahu to form a government without officially bringing Arab ministers into the fold.

The Joint List won 11 seats in the 120-member parliament following an election that saw historic turnout. Ra’am, another Arab party, won 8 seats. Netanyahu’s coalition holds 53 seats, while the main opposition bloc led by former general Gadi Eisenkot secured 48. The opposition needs the support of the Arab parties to reach the 61 seats required for a majority.

Tibi explained that his group could support a new government by voting for it or abstaining to lower the threshold for a majority. This strategy aims to reassure Jewish-led factions that view the Joint List with suspicion. It also satisfies their own constituents, who may be wary of seeing their representatives in a government waging war in Gaza and Lebanon.

For Netanyahu’s opponents, the arrangement solves a dilemma. They campaigned by portraying Netanyahu as a corrupt leader who failed to prevent the Oct. 7, 2023, attack. However, many of their allies are split on whether to work with parties that reject Israel’s identity as a Jewish state. The Joint List, a coalition of three left-wing and nationalist parties, calls for a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza, and east Jerusalem.

Eisenkot has said that any partnership must meet certain conditions. He insisted that Arab-led parties must call Hamas a terrorist group that needs to be destroyed. Tibi argued that these conditions do not apply to parties providing outside support. He noted that the Joint List and Ra’am have denounced the Oct. 7 attack and violence against civilians, but they refuse to brand Hamas a terrorist group to avoid justifying Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

The political tension is not new. Many Jewish Israelis have historically viewed Arab-led parties with distrust, a sentiment Netanyahu has encouraged. He lodged unproven accusations of electoral fraud against these parties and portrayed them as a threat to national security. During the 2019 elections, he used the slogan “Bibi or Tibi?” to warn voters that opposing him meant relying on Arab-led parties.

Tibi said Tuesday that the recent election result has turned that slogan on its head. He stated, “When he said ‘Bibi or Tibi,’ he incited against Arabs. Now, it’s ‘Tibi,’ because Arab voters went in a very massive way to take part in the elections. It’s definitely our story this time.” He admitted he was under no illusions that a partnership would end the wars, but he said it would improve the lives of Palestinian citizens by ending Netanyahu’s rule.

The Joint List and Ra’am will now negotiate with the opposition blocs. The outcome will determine whether Israel moves forward with a “repair government” or returns to Netanyahu’s coalition. The final composition of the next government is expected to be known in the coming weeks as leaders meet to draft agreements.