Israel's Arab-led and ultra-Orthodox parties could be crucial in forming a coalition after the October 27 election, despite facing attacks from both main blocs.
01Summary
- 01Ra'am and the Joint List, representing Palestinian citizens of Israel (about 20% of the population), are projected to win 13 seats.
- 02In 2021, Ra'am became the first Arab party to join an Israeli government, entering a coalition that briefly removed Benjamin Netanyahu from power.
- 03The Likud party and the opposition bloc are neck-and-neck in polls, with neither projected to win an outright majority in the 120-seat Knesset.
- 04On October 2, the Supreme Court overturned a Central Elections Committee decision to disqualify Ra'am and the Joint List from the election.
- 05The war triggered by the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack has accelerated a political shift to the right, with Arab-led parties accused of complicity.
02Why it matters
This matters because the outcome could determine whether Benjamin Netanyahu remains in power or is replaced, with Arab-led parties potentially holding the balance of power and influencing policy on Palestinian statehood and discrimination.
Answers are generated by AI from the story summary; they are not investment, health or legal advice.





