# Israeli Arab Parties Back Gadi Eisenkot to Form New Government Major Arab factions support Eisenkot, complicating Netanyahu's path to retaining power after elections. - **Source:** [Le Monde – International](https://www.lemonde.fr/international) - **Published:** 2026-11-05 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/afe752a6-5b3d-4bc9-9186-61e14f313993 ## Arab Parties Shift Strategy The Unified List and Raam, the primary Arab-Israeli political factions, have officially announced their support for centrist Gadi Eisenkot. This strategic move aims to block Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from securing a new term. These parties are presenting their recommendations to President Isaac Herzog during his ongoing consultations with political leaders. ## Netanyahu Loses Key Ally The United Torah Judaism party, a long-term ultra-orthodox ally of Netanyahu, has refused to recommend him for the premiership. This decision stems from intense internal disagreements regarding the conscription of religious students. Consequently, Netanyahu's support base has dropped to 46 seats, significantly weakening his ability to form a governing coalition. ## Presidential Consultation Process Following the October 27 legislative elections, President Isaac Herzog is meeting with party leaders to determine who is best positioned to form a government. He must designate a candidate by November 11. While Eisenkot currently holds 67 recommendations, the final decision rests on the president's assessment of who can build a stable majority. ## Parliamentary Arithmetic Challenges A stable government in the Knesset requires a minimum of 61 seats. Currently, Netanyahu's bloc holds 53 seats, while Eisenkot's opposition bloc reaches 48. Although Eisenkot has secured 67 recommendations, forming a formal coalition remains difficult due to ideological divisions among his own supporters regarding cooperation with Arab-Israeli political parties. ## Societal and Political Tensions The Israeli public remains deeply divided following the October 7 attacks. Many Jewish voters are wary of any alliance involving Arab parties, which Netanyahu frequently labels as supporters of terrorism. This political climate creates a significant dilemma for Eisenkot, as any formal partnership could cause his own opposition bloc to fracture. ## Potential Minority Government Path One proposed solution for Eisenkot is to form a minority government supported indirectly by Arab parties. However, this path faces stiff resistance from nationalist figures like Avigdor Liberman. The political impasse remains precarious, as the designated candidate will have 28 days to negotiate a coalition, with a potential 14-day extension if necessary. ## Allegations of Electoral Fraud Netanyahu has repeatedly accused Arab parties of electoral fraud, claiming they purchased votes with foreign funds from Qatar. Electoral authorities have officially denied these allegations, stating there is no evidence of irregularities that would impact the final results. The opposition views these claims as a desperate attempt to discredit the democratic process. ## Implications for Future Stability If Eisenkot fails to form a government, the mandate will pass to another candidate. Should all efforts result in an impasse, Israel faces the prospect of yet another round of elections. The current political maneuvering highlights the extreme difficulty of governing a deeply polarized society without a clear, unified parliamentary majority. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2026/11/05/israel-les-deux-principales-listes-arabes-soutiennent-gadi-eisenkot-pour-former-le-prochain-gouvernement_6807111_3210.html — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._