On Oct. 28, in Jerusalem, senior Arab lawmaker Ahmad Tibi confirmed that the Joint List, an alliance of Arab‑majority parties, is in talks with the bloc opposing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the formation of an alternative government following Tuesday’s parliamentary election.
The Joint List, which includes Ta’al, Balad and Hadash, said it was prepared to support the so‑called “change bloc” in replacing Netanyahu, but it was unlikely to formally join a governing coalition. Tibi told Israel’s state‑owned Kan Reshet Bet Radio that the alliance was ready to help the anti‑Netanyahu camp, adding that the Joint List could negotiate parliamentary arrangements in exchange for progress on issues affecting Israel’s Arab minority, such as crime, house demolitions, infrastructure and incitement.
We have blocked the possibility of Netanyahu forming a government. Our public wants us to go further and influence the shape of the political system after the elections.
After the quote, Tibi explained that the Joint List might make its lawmakers vote in the most beneficial manner for its constituents, but the parties were uncertain about being an “organic part of this government.” He stated that other arrangements were possible and that the alliance would continue to play an influential role in post‑election politics.
Broader Opposition Call for Cooperation
Yair Golan, leader of the center‑left Democrats party and member of the opposition bloc led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, urged his allies to abandon their refusal to cooperate with Arab parties. Golan wrote on the social media platform X, “We must no longer accept Netanyahu’s racist division between Jewish votes and Arab votes.”
Yousef Jabareen, chairman of the Joint List, echoed Tibi’s sentiment and stated that “anyone who wants to offer a real alternative to Netanyahu’s blood‑stained government will have to talk to us.” He added that the alliances were ready to pave the way for Netanyahu’s removal.
The statements come as vote counting continued after an election in which neither Netanyahu’s right‑wing bloc nor Eisenkot’s coalition captured the 61 seats required for a parliamentary majority. With about 77 percent of the votes counted, the official projections were 54 seats for Netanyahu’s bloc and 49 for the Eisenkot‑led opposition, according to Israel’s Central Elections Committee.
Both the Joint List and the Muslim Ra’am party were projected to win a combined total of 14 seats in the 120‑seat Knesset, leaving the room for alliances to decide the next government. Analysts say the Arab parties could play a decisive role in determining the next administration, given the distribution of seats.
More detailed figures for each party are pending, and the outcome of negotiations remains uncertain. The Joint List’s willingness to support the anti‑Netanyahu bloc without joining a coalition marks a significant development in the post‑election negotiation landscape.
