Netanyahu Bloc Loses 15 Seats as 19 Arab-Led Seats Leave Opposition Short of 61
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Oct 30
Netanyahu Bloc Loses 15 Seats as 19 Arab-Led Seats Leave Opposition Short of 61
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Oct 30
Summary
Netanyahu’s coalition fell from 68 seats to 53 in the 120-seat Knesset, losing its majority even as he remains well placed to stay prime minister.
Nineteen seats won by Arab-led parties — powered by roughly 80% turnout in Palestinian communities — gave the anti-Netanyahu camp 67 seats on paper but not a workable coalition.
Most Jewish-led opposition parties have ruled out governing with Arab parties, leaving them unable to reach 61 seats unless they win defections from Netanyahu’s bloc; even Ra’am alone would not be enough.
Likud has meanwhile intensified claims that Arab turnout tainted the vote, including allegations of Qatari funding, as coalition talks raise the prospect of a Netanyahu-led unity deal or another election.
The result underlines a broader reality in Israeli politics: the opposition cannot unseat Netanyahu through Jewish votes alone and faces a deeper reckoning over Arab political inclusion.