Record gains for Ra’am and the Joint List leave both Netanyahu and Eisenkot short of a majority, and demonstrators want Arab parties inside the next coalition.
Tamrah News Desk | October 29, 2026
Israel election results from Tuesday’s vote put two Arab parties on course for about 19 of the 120 Knesset seats, and Israelis rallied in Tel Aviv on Wednesday to demand a Jewish and Arab government, according to Al Jazeera. Neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc nor the opposition led by Gadi Eisenkot has the 61 seats needed to govern, CNN reported. That gives the Arab parties a possible say in who forms the next coalition.
Israel Election Results: Where the Seats Stand
With about 90 percent of votes counted, the Times of Israel reported that Netanyahu’s bloc held 53 seats and Eisenkot’s bloc 48, with the two mainly Arab parties on 19. Haaretz put the opposition total at 67 including the Arab parties, with Likud the largest single party on about 26 seats. CNN said Eisenkot’s Yashar party was projected to win 21.
CNN described the Arab total as the highest ever, up from 10 seats in the outgoing Knesset. Haaretz estimated that at least 730,000 people voted for Arab parties. Ynetnews reported that ballots in double envelopes were still being counted and could change the numbers.
Rally in Tel Aviv Calls for a Jewish and Arab Government
Haaretz reported that hundreds of people demonstrated on Wednesday evening in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa. The Tribune, citing Haaretz through the ANI agency, put the number near 300 across Mesila Park in Tel Aviv, Paris Square in Jerusalem and UNESCO Square in Haifa. The same report said Eisenkot wrote on X that voters had expressed no confidence in the outgoing government.
Will Arab Parties Decide Who Forms the Next Government?
CNN reported that Eisenkot cannot reach 61 seats without Ra’am and the Joint List. The Times of Israel described the Arab parties as potential kingmakers. PBS reported that Netanyahu will not work with Arab led parties and that they have ruled out joining him.
CNN also said Eisenkot has set conditions for partners, including recognizing Israel as a Jewish state and Hamas as a terrorist organization that must be dismantled. Most Arab lawmakers are unlikely to accept those terms, according to CNN. The Jerusalem Post reported that the numbers raise the possibility of a minority government winning a confidence vote without 61 seats.
Democrats leader Yair Golan urged his partners to count Arab parties inside the bloc, rejecting a
“racist division between Jewish and Arab votes,”
CNN reported. The Jewish Chronicle said Netanyahu has warned against a government that includes Arab parties.
Arab Party Leaders Signal Willingness to Work for Change
Joint List chairman Yousef Jabareen said his alliance is now
“a decisive force in politics,”
the Jewish Chronicle reported. The Times of Israel said Jabareen is prepared to help remove the current government. RTE reported that he told Reuters his party would use its projected 12 seats to help end Netanyahu’s government. Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas told supporters,
“We are here, we are not on the sidelines,”
PBS reported. The Jewish Chronicle said both blocs have approached him for exploratory talks, while the Times of Israel reported he does not intend to join a Netanyahu led government. See our Israel politics reporting for earlier coverage.
Likud Claims Fraud as Officials Push Back
The Times of Israel reported that Likud claimed Arab parties stole the election and demanded an investigation by police and the Shin Bet. A Central Elections Committee official dismissed fraud claims in an interview with Channel 12, the same report said.
Al Jazeera’s election explainer noted that the committee had voted to bar Ra’am and the Joint List from running, but the Supreme Court unanimously overturned the bans on October 2.
What Happens Next
The Times of Israel reported that President Isaac Herzog urged parties to avoid another election and keep an open mind in coalition talks. According to the Jewish Chronicle, negotiations will continue until a majority forms or Herzog offers a second candidate the chance. Final figures have not been released. Follow our world news page for updates.
Conclusion
Israel election results have placed Arab parties at the centre of coalition talks, with the Joint List and Ra’am holding about 19 Knesset seats between them. Netanyahu and Eisenkot both lack a majority, and the calls for a Jewish and Arab government will test how far either leader is willing to go once the final count arrives.
