How can Arab parties determine the balance of power in Israeli elections? Yoland Nel, BBC Middle East Correspondent, Nazareth Polls show that Arab parties may be in a position to play a decisive role in the balance of power.
Political disillusionment in the past has often reduced the participation of Israeli Arabs in elections, who make up about a fifth of the country's population and many see themselves as Palestinian citizens of Israel.
Most polls show that neither Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies, nor the "Coalition for Change" led by Gadi Eisenkot, the former Chief of Staff of the IDF, has a clear path to obtaining a parliamentary majority.
If these polls are correct, Mr. Netanyahu's opposition parties, which want to form a coalition government after the elections, will have to go back on their promise not to cooperate with the prime minister or to reach an agreement with mainly the Arab parties in Israel. One of the main obstacles is that until now Gadi Eisenkot rejected the formation of the government with the support of Arab parties and cited the lack of shared values as the reason.
Politics and society in Israel underwent a change after the deadly and unprecedented attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023 and the subsequent war in Gaza; Mistrust and hostility towards the Israeli Arab minority also increased.
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