Israel’s Supreme Court cleared Ra’am and the Joint List to run in Tuesday’s Knesset election, but the lists’ potential role in coalition talks is constrained by politicians who reject partnership.
In a unanimous Oct. 2 ruling, the court overturned the Central Elections Committee’s decision to disqualify the lists. The justices said the case presented to the committee was insufficient to keep either list off the ballot.
The Associated Press reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and rival politicians have ruled out forming a government with Arab-led parties. A list must receive at least 3.25% of valid votes to enter the Knesset. The legislature has 120 seats, and 61 are needed for a majority, making smaller parties relevant when larger blocs negotiate over government formation.
Al Jazeera reported that Laila Atamneh, 19, plans to vote for the Joint List in her first election after considering Ra’am and the Democrats as tactical alternatives. She told the outlet, “I feel like I have to be these people’s voice,” describing her vote as a way to represent Palestinians in the occupied territories who cannot vote in Israel’s election.
Joint List leader Yousef Jabareen told the Associated Press, “We have to use our political power in order to basically block the deterioration of the situation.”
Arab and Druze turnout was 53.2% in the 2022 Knesset election, according to an Israel Democracy Institute analysis based on the Central Elections Committee’s final results. Ra’am joined the Bennett-Lapid government in 2021, becoming the first Arab party to formally enter an Israeli governing coalition, the institute said. That precedent shows Arab-party participation in government has occurred, though the positions AP reported point to resistance to a repeat.
Israel votes Tuesday, Oct. 27, and the Central Elections Committee’s timetable lists Nov. 4 for publication of official results.
