Joint List: Arab Voter Turnout Prevents Netanyahu From Securing Majority

The Joint List announced in an official statement that broad Arab participation in Israel's October 27 elections transformed voting day into "an expanded popular demonstration against fascists," noting that this record turnout contributed to denying Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies a parliamentary majority.

According to preliminary results, the ruling bloc led by Netanyahu secured 53 seats, while the opposition bloc led by former Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot won 48 seats. The combined total for the Joint List and the United Arab List reached 19 seats in the Knesset, the highest figure in the history of Arab representation in the Israeli parliament. The statement thanked Jewish democratic forces that "swam against the tide of racism."

The Joint List affirmed that it would leverage this power to prevent the reformation of Netanyahu's government and expressed readiness to cooperate to pave the way for an alternative government. However, it conditioned this support on the opposition bloc presenting "a genuine political alternative" that commits to not excluding Arab parties and to protecting the rights of the Arab community.