Joint Arab List sets historic record in Israel: 19 seats, Netanyahu bloc fails to secure majority

Following the parliamentary elections held on October 27 in Israel, preliminary results announced show that the ruling bloc led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secured 53 seats, while the opposition bloc led by former Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot fell behind with 48 seats.

The Joint Arab List and United Arab List, representing Israeli Palestinian citizens, gained a combined total of 19 seats, reaching the highest level of representation in Parliament to date.

In a written statement, the Joint Arab List noted that although election results have not yet been finalized, current data shows that high participation from the Arab community contributed to Netanyahu and his supporters failing to reach the majority required to form a government. The statement said, "We will use the power voters have given us to prevent the formation of a Netanyahu government."

The list announced it is ready to cooperate with the opposition bloc to pave the way for an alternative government; however, it set three conditions for this cooperation: that the opposition bloc presents a genuine political alternative, that it does not exclude the Arab community, and that it remains committed to the community's demands and rights.

The statement emphasized that Arab voters responded to "provocations and threats with collective will," and also thanked democratic Jewish voters "moving against the tide of racism."