Israel’s Arab-led parties are entering Tuesday’s election on separate lists, making their role in coalition talks depend on the seats they win and whether other parties will negotiate with them.
Israel’s parliament has 120 seats, and a majority requires 61. A party list needs at least 3.25% of the vote to enter the Knesset. The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) estimated that Arab residents numbered about 2.104 million, or 21.4% of Israel’s population, at the end of 2024. That estimate describes the population; it does not show how many residents were eligible to vote or cast ballots.
Ra’am, also known as the United Arab List, is contesting the election separately from the Joint List, which comprises Hadash, Ta’al and Balad. Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas told Qantara that his party wants to join a government and identified crime and violence in Arab society as a leading concern.
The Joint List’s platform calls for protections in civil and national life, action against crime and violence, and investment in Arab communities. It says the list will seek parliamentary agreements as an equal partner, but does not specify whether it would join a cabinet.
Ra’am’s participation in the Bennett-Lapid coalition offers a precedent. The Knesset records that the 36th government served from June 13, 2021, to Dec. 29, 2022. The Israel Democracy Institute describes Ra’am’s role in that government as the first time an Arab party formally joined an Israeli governing coalition.
Coalition options remain uncertain. The Jerusalem Post reported that most opposition parties seeking to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had rejected forming a government with Arab parties. The Associated Press reported similar public positions from Netanyahu and rival Gadi Eisenkot.
Broadcasters plan to issue exit polls after voting ends, the Associated Press reported, but those are estimates rather than official results. The Central Elections Committee has scheduled publication of the results for Nov. 4.
