Joint Arab List Offers Support to Replace Netanyahu Government

Tel Aviv, MINA – The Joint Arab List has expressed its readiness to use its political and parliamentary influence to help end Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s rule and support the formation of an alternative Israeli government, its leader Yousef Jabareen said on Wednesday.

Jabareen said the party intended to influence both the election outcome and negotiations over the next government. He emphasized that any political arrangement must address the demands of Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel.

Among the list’s key demands are a properly funded plan to tackle crime and violence in Arab communities, a halt to home demolitions, and a meaningful political process toward establishing a Palestinian state.

The party has ruled out providing unconditional support to a future government, saying any agreement must be linked to progress on its political and social priorities. However, some Israeli opposition parties have opposed forming a government that depends on the backing of Arab parties.

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Preliminary election figures showed Netanyahu’s bloc with 54 seats, compared with 47 for the bloc of Zionist opposition parties. The two Arab lists secured the remaining 19 seats, with the Joint Arab List winning 13 and the United Arab List taking six.

The election, held on Tuesday, resulted in a fragmented Knesset, with neither Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc nor the opposition led by Gadi Eisenkot reaching the 61 seats needed for a parliamentary majority. The Arab parties, which have often been excluded from governing coalitions, could therefore play a significant role in negotiations over the next government.

Palestinian citizens make up approximately one-fifth of Israel’s population. The Joint Arab List has traditionally focused on civil rights and socioeconomic issues while also participating in political efforts aimed at preventing Netanyahu from retaining power.

The party’s demands reflect longstanding concerns in Arab communities over crime, violence and home demolitions, alongside calls for progress toward Palestinian statehood. Its potential role in government formation remains contentious, as some Zionist parties reject relying on Arab political support.[]

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Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)