Why Israel's opposition no longer wants Palestinian parties in government

Anti-Netanyahu leaders who once championed collaboration with Palestinian parties have now ruled it out, signaling a shift in Israeli politics following the October 7 attacks. Officially announcing his intention to form a "Zionist majority" government if elected, Gadi Eisenkot, a former army general and leader of the Yashar party, pledged to seek a partnership with ultra-Orthodox parties if necessary.

This reflects a broader trend among anti-Netanyahu leaders, including Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, who have stopped forming governments that rely on Palestinian Arab parties such as the United Arab List (Ra'am). The change is attributed to a shift in Israeli public opinion since the attacks, with 71.5% of Jewish Israelis opposing the inclusion of Arab parties in the next government and 57% opposing the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Former Israeli political analyst Ehab Jabareen attributes the return of the taboo on Palestinian parties to Netanyahu's successful campaign portraying cooperation as politically illegitimate. Ra'am, the Palestinian party that played a crucial role in Bennett and Lapid's coalition in 2021, has now reportedly reached an agreement to include a Jewish lawmaker on its electoral list, signaling a cautious approach for the party amidst the changing political climate.