Israel concluded its recent national election with notable outcomes highlighting both the enduring political strength of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the growing representation of Arab parties in the Knesset. Despite predictions favoring a coalition led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, Netanyahu’s Likud party secured the largest single share of seats, underscoring his continued prominence in Israeli politics.
The election drew significant international attention, with over 100,000 Israelis residing abroad returning to vote, reflecting the high level of engagement and passion surrounding the contest. Netanyahu, who has served as prime minister for approximately 19 years across three separate terms, remains a dominant figure amid a complex political landscape. Likud won 27 seats, surpassing Eisenkot’s centrist Yesh Atid, which secured 21 seats. In total, Netanyahu's bloc obtained 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset compared with Eisenkot’s 48.
A key development was the increased influence of Arab parties, which together now hold 19 Knesset seats. Ra’am, an Islamist party that has campaigned alongside Jewish Zionist Yoav Segalovitz, secured additional representation, while the Joint List alliance, comprising Hadash, Ta’al, and Balad, also maintained a parliamentary presence. This marks a significant moment, especially given ongoing international debates surrounding Israel’s treatment of its Arab citizens amid accusations of apartheid by some UN bodies. However, the election illustrated that Arab parties are active participants in Israel’s democratic process.
Opposition figures such as former Prime Ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid have previously relied on Arab party support to govern, with Ra’am playing a constructive role in coalition formation post-2021 elections. Bennett’s party, Yachad, won 12 seats, while Avigdor Liberman’s Yisrael Beytenu secured seven seats. Both former Netanyahu chiefs of staff, Bennett and Liberman oppose forming coalitions with Arab parties but share similar right-wing security views with Netanyahu and have called for investigations into Netanyahu’s performance preceding the October 7 attacks.
The challenges of coalition-building remain complex, with many on the Israeli left advocating for Eisenkot to attempt government formation in partnership with Arab factions. However, ideological differences—particularly with Ra’am’s refusal to classify Hamas as a terrorist group and the left-wing orientation of parties within the Joint List—pose obstacles to such alliances.
Internationally, the Israeli election spotlight has rekindled debates about Israel's role in the Middle East, its democratic nature, and regional security concerns. While some foreign media and commentators express apprehension about the far-right elements within Netanyahu’s coalition—highlighted by figures such as National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich—others emphasize Israel’s sovereignty and the robust political culture evident in the voters’ engagement.
Concerns have also been raised regarding media coverage and polling accuracy, with many outlets and pollsters failing to predict Netanyahu’s strong performance accurately. Meanwhile, discussions continue around foreign influence on the election, including alleged efforts by Qatar to affect Arab voter turnout, although investigations by Israeli security agencies remain inconclusive.
Australia’s government leaders, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong, have been urged to consider these electoral dynamics carefully, especially in the context of their recognition of Palestine amid ongoing political stalemates within Palestinian leadership and the absence of elections in Gaza since 2006.
Overall, Israel’s recent election reaffirms the country's vibrant but divided democratic processes, with its political future hinging on coalition negotiations and the ability to address both internal divisions and external pressures.