Israel: Demos for the integration of Arab parties

They demonstrated for change - and the replacement of Prime Minister Netanyahu: In Israel, hundreds have called on the opposition to involve the Arab parties in forming a government.

After parliamentary elections in Israel, demonstrations for the integration of Arab parties As of: November 1st, 2026 • 12:24 p.m

They demonstrated for change - and the replacement of Prime Minister Netanyahu: In Israel, hundreds have called on the opposition to involve the Arab parties in forming a government.

After the parliamentary elections in Israel, hundreds of people took to the streets and demanded cooperation between the opposition and Arab parties. “There is a majority for change,” read posters at protests in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, among other things.

The demonstrators called for government talks between opposition candidate Gadi Eisenkot's alliance and the Arab Lists to form an alliance against the current government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Inscriptions such as "Arabs and Jews will only win together" could be read on the protest signs. "Really, why not - or are we racist?" asked one protester.

During counter-protests, supporters of Prime Minister Netanyahu waved flags with his picture, shouted his campaign slogans and spoke out against the integration of Arab parties.

Netanyahu supporters gathered in counter-protests.

The parliamentary election on October 28th in Israel led to a stalemate: Netanyahu's Likud party and his bloc are ahead with 53 seats - but do not have a clear majority to form a government. This also applies to challenger Eisenkot's opposition alliance with 48 seats. For a majority in the parliament with 120 members, 61 seats are needed.

The Arab lists could now become decisive: they secured a total of 19 seats in the parliamentary elections - more than ever before. "67 mandates for change" was also one of the demonstrators' slogans - because an alliance between Eisenkot's bloc and the Israeli-Arab parties would result in 67 MPs.

But there is resistance to cooperation in some opposition parties. Eisenkot once again tied possible government participation to conditions. Its core demands include a commitment to Israel as a Jewish, democratic and liberal state with legal equality for all citizens. Eisenkot also wants to classify Hamas as a terrorist organization in order to dismantle its military structures in the Gaza Strip and exclude it from political power.

It is unclear what concessions the Arab parties would be willing to make. There are sometimes different opinions about the possibilities for cooperation.

The Arab lists in Israel achieved great success in the parliamentary elections. more

Israeli President Izchak Herzog will begin his consultations on forming a government with the parties elected to the Knesset on Wednesday. As the Israeli daily Haaretz reported, the meeting will be broadcast live.

Traditionally, the president instructs the candidate to form a government who he believes has the best chance of winning a parliamentary majority - and not automatically the leader of the largest party. Politicians should show openness and look for “creative solutions” to prevent another parliamentary election, Herzog appealed in advance.

The candidate appointed by the president is then given 28 days to form a coalition - with the possibility of an extension of 14 days. If this attempt fails, the head of state transfers the task to another member of parliament for 28 days.