Thousands of people rallied in Tel Aviv on Saturday to urge the Israeli opposition to make a deal with Arab-led parties to remove Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, following a deadlocked election that has left neither side able to form a government alone.
Tuesday’s election saw Netanyahu’s bloc win 53 seats in the 120-seat parliament, while Eisenkot’s bloc won 48. Three Arab-led parties won 19 seats, having made significant gains in Tuesday’s election. Nearly 840,000 people voted for Ra’am and the Joint List, a 64 percent increase from the last elections in 2022, according to the Central Election Committee.
Protesters at Saturday's rally told the AFP news agency this may be the "last chance for real change" and described Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, as a "great manipulator." Al Jazeera correspondent Nour Odeh reported from Ramallah that "people really want this vote for change to work out, and they believe that… Gadi Eisenkot and other leaders of the Jewish-Israeli parties need to listen to their voice."
Counter-protesters also appeared, with Netanyahu supporters shouting that “Israel should not have a government with so-called terrorists.” Netanyahu has accused Palestinian-Israeli parties of “stealing” the polls and accepting funding from Qatar to do so, allegations that Qatar has rejected, calling it a “disinformation campaign.”
Odeh said Israeli right-wing circles have described "the historic turnout of Palestinian Israelis as electoral terrorism, equating it to the October 7th attack," when Hamas-led fighters killed more than 1,200 people and took hundreds captive. She added that "Palestinian-Israeli votes and voices" are under attack because they hold a prominent position in deciding whether Eisenkot can form a government.
Eisenkot has previously ruled out forming a coalition with Israel's Arab parties, but a coalition with them would provide a comfortable majority of 67 seats. A protester dressed as US President Donald Trump held a puppet depicting Netanyahu.
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Seats won in the 120-seat parliament, by bloc
seats
Source: Central Election Committee
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Analysis
Why This Matters
The election deadlock means Israel could face prolonged political uncertainty or a fifth election in under four years if no coalition is formed.
An alliance between Eisenkot’s centrist Yashar and Arab-led parties would be historically unprecedented at the national level and could reshape Israeli politics.
The debate over Arab parties' role in government has heightened tensions between Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel.
Background
Tuesday's election was the fifth in under four years, with neither Netanyahu's right-wing bloc nor Eisenkot's centrist bloc winning a clear majority. The Arab-led Ra'am and Joint List parties made significant gains, winning 19 seats and emerging as potential kingmakers. Netanyahu has governed for a total of over 15 years, making him Israel's longest-serving prime minister. The October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, in which more than 1,200 Israelis were killed and hundreds taken hostage, continues to shape political discourse.
Key Perspectives
Protesters: say this may be the "last chance for real change" and want Eisenkot to negotiate with Arab parties to form a government.
Netanyahu supporters: oppose any coalition with Arab parties, calling them "so-called terrorists."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: has accused Palestinian-Israeli parties of "stealing" the election and receiving funding from Qatar.
Qatar: rejected the allegations as a "disinformation campaign."
Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot: has previously ruled out forming a coalition with Arab parties, but faces growing pressure to reconsider.
What to Watch
Whether Eisenkot publicly revises his position on coalition with Arab parties in the coming days.
Any response from the Arab-led parties on conditions for supporting a government.
The impact of Netanyahu's allegations on public opinion and potential coalition negotiations.
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
SupportedThousands rallied in Tel Aviv on Saturday to urge the Israeli opposition to make a deal with Arab parties to remove Netanyahu.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Thousands of people have rallied in Tel Aviv to urge the Israeli opposition to make a deal with Arab parties to remove Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.”
SupportedNetanyahu’s bloc won 53 seats and Eisenkot’s won 48, leaving neither able to form a government alone in the 120-seat parliament.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Netanyahu’s bloc won 53 seats in Tuesday’s elections, while Eisenkot’s won 48, meaning neither side can form a government in Israel’s 120-seat parliament alone.”
SupportedNearly 840,000 people voted for Ra’am and the Joint List, 64 percent more than in the 2022 elections.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Nearly 840,000 people voted for Ra’am and the Joint List, a coalition of three Arab-led parties, a 64 percent increase from the last elections in 2022, according to the Central Election Committee.”
SupportedNour Odeh said people want the vote for change to work out and believe Jewish-Israeli party leaders need to listen to them.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: ““People really want this vote for change to work out, and they believe that… Gadi Eisenkot and other leaders of the Jewish-Israeli parties need to listen to their voice,” Al Jazeera correspondent Nour Odeh said from Ramallah on Saturday.”
SupportedNetanyahu supporters shouted that Israel should not have a government with “so-called terrorists.”Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Netanyahu supporters seen shouting their own demands that “Israel should not have a government with so-called terrorists”, Odeh said.”
SupportedNetanyahu accused Palestinian-Israeli parties of “stealing” the polls and taking Qatar funding; Qatar rejected the allegations as a “disinformation campaign.”Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Netanyahu has accused Palestinian-Israeli parties of “stealing” the polls and accepting funding from Qatar to do it. Qatar has rejected the allegations , calling it a disinformation campaign.”
SupportedOdeh said Israeli right-wing circles called the historic turnout of Palestinian Israelis “electoral terrorism,” equating it with the October 7 attack.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Odeh said that Israeli right-wing circles have described “the historic turnout of Palestinian Israelis as electoral terrorism, equating it to the October 7th attack””
SupportedOdeh said Palestinian-Israeli votes and voices are under attack because they have a prominent role in deciding whether Eisenkot can form a government.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: ““Palestinian-Israeli votes and voices” are under attack because they have a “prominent position” in deciding whether Eisenkot can form a government, she added.”