'Israeli president trying to form unity govt: They will not need Arab parties nor Orthodox parties'

An Israeli presidential bid to forge a unity government is underway, according to Yedioth Ahronoth correspondent Tamar Sebok. Despite the political landscape presenting uncertainty, this election has seen elevated voter turnout and heightened engagement among Arab voters.

Sebok emphasizes that the core issue in Israel's parliamentary system is not the party garnering the most seats but the leader capable of assembling a workable coalition. She explains that the result hinges on how others perceive the coalition's acceptance.

Sebok points out a paradox in coalition politics: smaller parties can wield disproportionate power when larger parties rely on them to achieve the necessary parliamentary majority. "The small parties who are the balance have a lot more power than the big ones. It's a contradiction," she notes.

Sebok cautions against interpreting public statements that exclude cooperation with Arab parties as final. She draws attention to the 2021 coalition negotiations, suggesting that political alliances can change dramatically once the campaigning shifts to the practicalities of forming a government. "The Arab parties have never been that strong," she states, before concluding that all possibilities remain open in this political scenario.