In the battle to defend Netanyahu’s regime, Arab parties may become kingmakers

Abbas, chairman of the "Joint Arab List", voted in the Israeli parliamentary election on the 27th. (Reuters)

The election situation in Israel's parliamentary election on the 27th is tight. Arab parties representing about 20% of the country's population may become a key force in who can form a government. Abbas, chairman of the Islamist party "Joint Arab List", said he hopes the Arab turnout will exceed 70% and "replace this government."

Reuters and the Associated Press reported that the Israeli Knesset has a total of 120 seats, and there are many political parties. Since the founding of the country, no party has ever obtained more than the majority threshold of 61 seats. Amotz Asa-El, a political analyst at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, predicts that "no matter which party wins, it will only get a slight majority and there will not be an overwhelming victory."

Current Prime Minister Netanyahu’s ruling coalition of the right, far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties, as well as the opposition camp with former Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot as the core, have no easy path to obtain a majority. The Associated Press pointed out that if other parties agree to cooperate with it, the Arab-led party may become the "kingmaker."

Israeli Palestinian MP Ahmed Tibi said that the Arab minority voted in "unprecedented" numbers; Mansour Abbas, chairman of the "Joint Arab List" (Ra'am), said when voting that he hoped the Arab turnout would exceed 70% and "our votes will replace this government."

However, Eisenkot has ruled out forming an alliance with Arab parties, citing a lack of shared values. Reuters pointed out that under some circumstances, Arab parties may still support the minority government led by Eisenkot to ensure that Netanyahu steps down.

After voting on the 27th, Natanyahu said that the Albanian parties that may influence the election results are receiving "a lot of, really huge support" and voters are going to the polls on an unprecedented scale. He urged right-wing and his "United Party" (Likud) voters to vote enthusiastically "for the sake of the country." Itamar Ben-Gvir, leader of the ultra-nationalist Jewish Power party in the ruling coalition, warned that if the right-wing camp fails to win, the next government may be "Abbas's government."