Israel elections 2026: Joint List backs anti-Netanyahu bloc, supports Gadi Eisenkot to form govt | What we know
The Joint List has offered to support an alternative Israeli government without joining it, as Netanyahu’s bloc falls short of a majority. Opposition and Arab-led parties together hold 67 seats, but political differences could complicate efforts to form a government.
In the wake of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition failing to secure a majority in the Knesset, the Joint List, an Arab political alliance, expressed willingness to assist opposition parties in forming the next government. Senior Arab MK Ahmad Tibi stated that his party supported the anti-Netanyahu Zionist parties in replacing Netanyahu, although he did not wish to be part of the government himself.
Tibi called on opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot to assume the role of forming a government, drawing parallels to Yitzhak Rabin's approach to securing the Oslo Accords with Arab lawmakers. The Joint List, which won 11 seats in Tuesday's election, emphasized their commitment to bringing about change and removing Likud's Amir Ohana as Knesset speaker.
They also called for a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 Hamas attack. The anti-Netanyahu bloc, along with other opposition parties, secured a combined 67 seats, a majority in the 120-member Knesset. Voter turnout reached a record 77.9% in the election, indicating strong public interest. However, the success of the coalition depends on the willingness of all parties to cooperate, a process expected to be challenging and potentially last over two months, as neither main bloc is close to achieving the 61 seats required for a majority.
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