By Salma El-Sakka
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition lost its majority in the October 28 election, leaving the opposition with a slim parliamentary majority only if it agrees to govern with Palestinian-led parties.
Election Results and Parliamentary Math
Final results released Friday show Netanyahu's bloc secured 53 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, while the opposition alliance led by retired general Gadi Eisenkot won 48 seats. Palestinian parties captured a record 19 seats. Neither bloc reaches the 61-seat threshold, prompting President Isaac Herzog to invite the party most likely to form a government to begin coalition talks.
Netanyahu's Fraud Claims Rejected
Netanyahu has claimed without evidence that Palestinian parties "stole the election," a charge amplified by far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who called for the arrest of Arab Israeli leaders. Israeli police and the Central Elections Committee have stated there is no evidence of fraud. President Herzog rebuked Netanyahu, urging politicians to avoid "tarnishing an entire community."
Palestinian Parties as Potential Kingmakers
The two main Palestinian factions, the Joint List led by Yousef Jabareen and Ra'am led by Mansour Abbas, could determine the next government. Ra'am previously joined Naftali Bennett's coalition in 2021 but left after 18 months over West Bank disagreements. The Joint List has ruled out joining an Eisenkot-led government due to its support for military operations in Gaza and Lebanon, but may support a minority government through confidence votes.
Opposition's Conditions and Historic Precedent
Polls indicate a majority of opposition voters favor cooperating with Ra'am to unseat Netanyahu. However, Eisenkot has set conditions for coalition partners that Palestinian parties find politically impossible to accept. Analysts note a precedent from the 1990s when Yitzhak Rabin relied on Palestinian support for a minority government to pursue peace negotiations.
