Arab Israeli parties emerge as wild card in parliamentary elections

Israel held parliamentary elections on October 27, 2026, resulting in a political deadlock with neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot securing the necessary majority of 61 seats in the 120-seat Knesset. The latest results indicate that Netanyahu's bloc has 53 seats and Eisenkot's alliance has 48 seats, while two Arab parties, Ra’am and Joint List, have won a combined total of 19 seats, putting them in a position to influence coalition formation.

Netanyahu has accused rival Arab parties of cheating after exit polls indicated his coalition failed to capture a majority. However, the results suggest that both major blocs are short of a clear mandate, with Netanyahu's Likud party and its allies outperforming expectations but falling short of an outright majority. The opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party is also struggling to secure enough seats for a governing majority.

The involvement of Arab parties in the election outcome marks a significant shift, as they have historically been on the political margins but now hold considerable power in influencing potential coalition negotiations. This situation could prolong the formation of a stable government and increase political uncertainty in Israel.