Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political bloc intensified pressure on Israeli Arab parties amid an ongoing election deadlock following the October 24 vote, focusing on allegations of foreign funding that remain unproven. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, known for his far-right views and hardline stance against Palestinians, called for the immediate arrest of Arab party leaders as part of efforts to weaken the significant gains made by these groups.
The election results have yet to produce a clear winner, with neither Netanyahu’s right-wing alliance nor the opposition coalition led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot able to secure the 61-seat majority in the 120-member Knesset. As of October 29, nearly 93 percent of votes were tallied, showing Netanyahu’s bloc at 53 seats and Eisenkot’s forces at 48. Arab parties collectively appeared poised to capture an unprecedented 19 seats.
The Arab parties represent a constituency descended from Palestinians who remained within Israel following its establishment in 1948. Their rising influence has sparked concern among Netanyahu’s supporters, who have warned that a coalition including these parties would threaten the country’s Jewish character. Netanyahu has repeatedly cautioned his right-wing base against enabling the opposition, suggesting that its success would empower Arab lawmakers.
Amid these tensions, Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, who chairs the Central Election Commission, requested an investigation by the country’s internal security service, Shin Bet, into claims that the Raam party, a prominent Arab faction, received financial support from Qatar—a Gulf state that maintains ties with Hamas. Netanyahu’s Likud party denounced the situation as a major scandal, asserting that the election has been "stolen," though no concrete evidence has been publicly provided.
Netanyahu himself has faced questions in the past regarding financial connections to Qatar, especially after two of his aides were arrested last year over alleged payments from the Gulf state. Historically, Netanyahu had allowed Qatar to channel funds into Gaza, governed by Hamas, in an effort to maintain stability. This arrangement unraveled after Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack, the deadliest in Israel’s history.
Opposition leader Eisenkot has expressed caution following the new allegations, affirming that he is monitoring the situation closely and pledging vigilance against any electoral interference. Nonetheless, he emphasized that political actors should not manipulate the timing of the Knesset’s swearing-in.
Yousef Jabareen, head of the leftist Arab-majority Joint List, expressed willingness to cooperate with the opposition to unseat Netanyahu but stopped short of joining a government led by Eisenkot. Jabareen stressed the priority was to end what he described as Netanyahu’s "blood-soaked government," citing profound disagreements within the Arab parties and with Eisenkot—particularly regarding his support for the military operations in Gaza following the recent Hamas attacks.
As Israel faces an uncertain political future amid regional tensions and the upcoming U.S. midterm elections, the role of Arab parties in forming a coalition government remains a contentious and pivotal issue.