{
  "id": 17716641,
  "title": "Israel’s Arab parties are kingmakers, yet no one wants them. Here’s why",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/israels-arab-parties-are-kingmakers-yet-no-one-wants-them-heres-why",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-02T01:06:49.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-global/israel-election-results-arab-parties-government-formation-10946324/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Israel's recent general elections have left the nation with no clear victor, revealing a deeply divided society. While Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party secured the most seats (53), it fell short of forming a government on its own. The Opposition led by Gadi Eizenkot (Yashar) managed to gather 48 seats, despite the efforts of thousands of supporters. An unexpected development was the surge in support for Arab parties, who earned 19 seats in the 120-member Knesset. For a coalition to form, either of the two main Jewish political blocs would need to seek the support of the Arab parties, such as the United Arab List (Ra'am) or the Hadash-Ta'al alliance. However, neither side seems inclined to do so, leading to speculation on the reasons behind this structural aversion. To understand this, one must consider the unique nature of Israel's democracy, as examined by historian Alan Dowty. This democracy incorporates elements of consociationalism, which emphasizes power-sharing, grand coalitions, mutual vetoes, and proportional representation. Yet, these features have traditionally been limited to intra-Jewish politics, leaving Israeli Arabs outside the traditional Jewish political sphere. While Arabs enjoy formal citizenship rights, they have only recently established an independent parliamentary party – the Arab Democratic Party (1988). Political scientist Ian Lustick highlights that Israel lacks a traditional Arab negotiating partner in elite bargaining processes, as Arabs make up approximately 20 percent of the population but are not systematically engaged in proportional resource allocation. The Basic Law, passed in 2018, further solidifies the ethnic character of Israeli democracy by legally prioritising Jewish self-determination. This has prompted criticism from Arab politicians, civil rights organisations, and non-Jewish communities, who argue that the law codifies structural hierarchy and undermines civic equality. Amid the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Israeli Arab citizens are often seen as extraterritorial and loyal to Palestinians, creating a complex position for them within Israeli politics. While Netanyahu accuses Arab citizens of being affiliated with extraterritorial interests, Opposition leaders have hesitated to partner with Arab parties due to concerns over alienating right-leaning coalition partners. However, some argue that forming a coalition with Arab parties could unseat Netanyahu, but this would risk alienating key right-leaning coalition partners.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": "The refusal of major Jewish political blocs to partner with Arab parties reinforces a structural hierarchy that excludes a significant portion of the population from the nation's elite bargaining processes.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "title": "Watch: Right-wing Israelis protest in Haifa against Arab parties joining next government",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/watch-right-wing-israelis-protest-in-haifa-against-arab-parties",
        "published": "2026-11-02T05:04:10.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}