Arab Parties Hold Potential Balance of Power in Tight Israeli Election Race

OPA WIRE, Oct 23 (OPA) — In Nazareth, Israel’s largest Arab city, activists are mobilizing voters to cast ballots in a high-stakes national election. Recent polling indicates that neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition nor the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot holds a clear path to a parliamentary majority, leaving Arab parties in a position to potentially influence the outcome.

Political tensions have intensified since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack and the subsequent war in Gaza. Arab-Israeli citizens report increased discrimination and social friction, with civil society groups citing budget cuts to Arab municipalities and a narrowing space for political expression. Soha Salman Mousa of the Nazareth-based Mossawa Center stated that the community has faced systemic marginalization, noting that some individuals have faced professional repercussions for opposing the war.

Netanyahu’s campaign has framed the election as a choice between his right-wing coalition and a potential government supported by Arab parties, which he characterizes as a security risk. His campaign has utilized AI-generated imagery to depict political rivals aligning with Arab leaders, a strategy critics like radio host Mohammad Magadli describe as an attempt to delegitimize Arab political representation. Meanwhile, Gadi Eisenkot has maintained a refusal to form a coalition with Arab parties, citing a lack of shared values.

With 120 seats in the Knesset, the Arab-majority factions—including the Joint List and the United Arab List led by Mansour Abbas—are projected to secure between 13 and 14 seats. As both major Jewish-led blocs hover around 50 seats each in current polling, the ability of these parties to act as kingmakers remains a central question. The outcome hinges on whether opposition leaders will reconsider their refusal to cooperate with Arab factions or if the current political deadlock will persist.