Arab political parties could hold the balance of power in Israel’s next parliament as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a closely contested election, with early projections showing no clear winner.
Exit polls suggest Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition holds a narrow advantage over the main opposition bloc led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot.
However, neither side appears to have secured the 61 seats needed to form a government.
The election comes amid deep political divisions in Israel and continuing international scrutiny of its war in Gaza.
Arab parties could hold balance of power
Arab political parties are projected to win a combined 18 to 19 seats in Israel’s 120-member parliament, the Knesset.
The result would represent an improvement on their performance in the previous election four years ago.
It could also give Arab representatives greater influence in a deeply divided parliament.
According to Al Jazeera, the projected gains have raised the possibility that Arab parties could play a decisive role in determining Israel’s next government.
However, neither Netanyahu’s coalition nor the main opposition alliance has indicated that it intends to include Arab parties in a governing coalition.
This leaves uncertainty over how their parliamentary strength could translate into political influence.
Netanyahu calls for right-wing government
Despite the inconclusive exit polls, Netanyahu claimed that right-wing parties had secured a decisive majority among Jewish Israeli voters.
He called for the formation of what he described as a national right-wing government.
Netanyahu also criticised the possibility of a coalition involving Arab political parties, describing such an arrangement as shameful.
His remarks highlight the political divisions surrounding Arab participation in Israel’s government.
Arab parties have previously accused Netanyahu of using inflammatory rhetoric against Arab voters for political advantage.
The final results could determine whether Netanyahu remains in power or faces a new opposition-led government.
Opposition challenges Netanyahu’s leadership
The main opposition alliance, led by Gadi Eisenkot, is seeking to end Netanyahu’s leadership.
Exit polls suggest the opposition remains competitive despite the narrow advantage projected for Netanyahu’s bloc.
However, the opposition also appears to lack enough seats to form a government independently.
The outcome could therefore depend on negotiations involving smaller parties.
Israel’s proportional representation system frequently requires political parties to form coalitions.
A governing majority requires at least 61 seats in the 120-member Knesset.
Without sufficient support, either bloc could struggle to establish a stable administration.
Gaza war remains central to Israel’s political future
The election takes place against the backdrop of Israel’s war in Gaza and mounting international criticism of its military campaign.
The devastation in Gaza has intensified scrutiny of Netanyahu’s government and Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.
Israel has faced accusations of genocide and other serious violations of international law over its military operations in the Palestinian territory.
Israel rejects allegations of genocide.
The election also highlights a longstanding disparity in political representation.
While Palestinian citizens of Israel can vote in parliamentary elections, millions of Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank and Gaza cannot participate in choosing Israel’s government.
Israeli settlers living in the occupied West Bank, however, are eligible to vote.
This means millions of Palestinians remain directly affected by Israeli government decisions without having a vote in the elections that determine its leadership.
The outcome could have significant implications for Gaza, Israeli settlement policies and the future of the occupied Palestinian territories.
Israel records high voter turnout
Voter turnout reached 77.7%, according to Israel’s Central Elections Committee.
The figure represents the country’s highest turnout in nearly three decades.
The strong participation reflects the significance of an election that could reshape Israel’s political leadership.
However, the final distribution of parliamentary seats remains uncertain as vote counting continues.
The projected gains by Arab parties also highlight the growing political importance of Palestinian citizens of Israel.
Their representation could become particularly significant if neither major bloc secures a clear majority.
What happens next?
The official results will determine how many seats each party receives and which political alliances can realistically form a government.
Arab parties could emerge with greater parliamentary influence if the projections are confirmed.
Nevertheless, their potential role remains limited by the reluctance of the two main blocs to include them in government.
For Netanyahu and Eisenkot, the challenge will be securing enough political support to reach a parliamentary majority.
Until the final results are announced, Israel’s political future remains uncertain.