Can Israel's oppositions overcome its differences to oust Netanyahu with Arab support?

The question of forming a coalition government comprising Jewish and Arab parties has once again come to the forefront of Israeli politics. In the recently concluded general election, the opposition to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secured a majority of seats. However, the prospect of forming a government has run into a major obstacle: whether to join hands with Arab political parties.

Against this backdrop, nearly 2,000 people took to the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday, October 31, demanding the formation of a joint Jewish-Arab government. A counter-rally by Netanyahu supporters was held at the same location, drawing around 200 people. They alleged that the election had been rigged and argued that forming a government with the support of Arab parties would go against Israel’s national interests. The rival demonstrations have brought the country's political divisions into sharper focus in the aftermath of the election.

Supporters of Jewish-Arab unity first gathered at Habima Square in Tel Aviv before marching to Rabin Square. The demonstration was led by Standing Together, a left-wing grassroots movement. Protesters raised slogans against racism and called for equal rights for Jews and Arabs. Among their chants were “Jews and Arabs refuse to be enemies” and “Not racism, but unity”. The march also featured slogans in Arabic demanding peace, freedom and social justice.

According to the protesters, the electoral mandate for change must be translated into political action. They argued that limiting coalition negotiations to Jewish political parties would fail to reflect the true outcome of the election. Arab citizens' votes, they stressed, carry the same weight as those of Jewish citizens. They should therefore have an equal say in shaping the country's future.

In the October 27 election, the ruling coalition led by Netanyahu secured 53 seats, while the opposition collectively won 67. The Israeli parliament, the Knesset, has 120 seats and a minimum of 61 is required to form a government. Although the opposition holds a numerical advantage, political differences among its constituent parties remain a major hurdle.

Four Jewish-led opposition parties won a combined 48 seats, while Arab-led political parties secured a total of 19. This makes it difficult for the opposition to form a government without Arab political support. The performance of the Arab parties is particularly significant given that approximately 840,000 people voted for Ra'am and the Joint List. This represents a 64 per cent increase compared with the 2022 election.

However, not all opposition parties are willing to form a government with Arab political groups. Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar, Naftali Bennett's B'Yachad and Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu have opposed coalition arrangements with Arab parties in the past. In contrast, the Democrats, led by Yair Golan, have publicly supported such an alliance. While the opposition broadly agrees on the need to remove Netanyahu from power, its members remain divided over the political representation of Arab citizens.

The situation has been further complicated by Netanyahu's allegations of electoral fraud. His Likud party has claimed that foreign powers helped Arab political parties influence the election. These allegations have brought Arab parties under renewed scrutiny. However, Israel's Central Elections Committee has stated that the investigation into alleged foreign interference is limited in scope and has not called the election results into question. Qatar has also denied the allegations.

Tensions escalated during the counter-rally. Netanyahu's supporters accused Arab parties of supporting terrorism, while some demonstrators reportedly raised racist slogans. In one particularly disturbing incident, a counter-protester threatened supporters of a joint Jewish-Arab government by invoking Nazi concentration camps such as Auschwitz and Sobibor.

For years, Netanyahu has questioned whether Arab political representatives should be accepted as legitimate partners in government. Yet the election results have demonstrated how difficult it may be to establish a viable governing coalition without their support.

Israel now faces two crucial questions. Can the opposition overcome its internal differences to remove Netanyahu from power? And will the political rights of Arab citizens remain confined to casting their votes in elections, or will they be recognised as equal partners in governing the country?