The Kingmakers
The Israeli general elections of October 27, 2026 have produced a new startling reality for Israel whereby Palestinian Israelis have finally come out to vote in unprecedented numbers demonstrating their true political clout.
The results of the elections are undoubtedly shocking for Jewish Israelis, while delightful for the Arab community. They won 19 seats or 16% of the Knesset, still falling short of their 21% share of the total population.
In this election, the Arab parties became the kingmakers, able to determine whether Netanyahu and his supporters could be ousted. The final results are: the Netanyahu bloc – 53, the opposition/change bloc – 48, and the Arab parties – 19.
The Arab parties are two separate lists, Ra’am with 8 seats, and the Joint List with 11 seats. Neither Arab party has enough seats alone to give the opposition bloc a 61-seat majority and so the cooperation of both Arab parties will be required if the change bloc wishes to assume the reins of power.
However, every change bloc party, with the exception of the Democrats who only hold 8 seats, has stated time and again that they will neither form a coalition with Arab parties, nor will they rely on their support for a minority government.
In order to build a change government Gadi Eizenkot, Naftali Bennett, and Avigdor Lieberman must do the unthinkable and walk back their pre-election promises not to work with the Arab parties. It’s either that or to break another promise, which is to work with Netanyahu and enable him to remain in power. Netanyahu, Eizenkot, Bennet, and Lieberman would have a 68-seat coalition. Their reality is that failing to walk back one or more pre-election promises will only lead to new elections.
One can only hope Palestinian Israelis, and their political representatives, have finally recognized the potential political power they now hold.
Their starting point for negotiations should be no less than the following:
1. Increased police presence to reduce crime and violence in their towns and villages.
2. Increased funding to make up for decades of discriminatory underinvestment in their education systems in towns and villages.
3. The immediate funding and planning for at least 20 new Arab towns and villages to make up for historic shortfalls.
4. The allocation of substantial new public land attached to their existing towns and villages to compensate for decades of stifling their growth.
5. Quotas for the employment of Arabs in the public services to compensate for past discrimination whereby the civil service is currently 12% Arab and does not reflect their 21% of the population
6. Immediate repeal of the Nation State law
7. Repeal of other discriminatory laws as documented in the Adalah database
8. Recognition of Arabic as an official state language
9. Public apologies from everyone who stated that they will not rely on Arabs to form or support a change government.
While these are maximalist demands, they are a starting point for negotiations and serve to publicize, recognize, and correct past injustice and discrimination. Placing these demands on the table will cement the Arab parties’ credibility with their voters and demonstrate the value of participation in Israeli elections.
