Arab-Israeli parties signal openness to opposition pact against Netanyahu

Arab-majority parties in Israel are positioning themselves to play a decisive role in the upcoming parliamentary election on October 27, expressing willingness to work with opposition forces to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Leaders of the two primary factions representing Arab citizens said their chief goal is ending the rule of Netanyahu's right-wing administration, which they describe as hostile and discriminatory. Arab citizens of Israel, who also identify as Palestinian citizens of Israel, make up approximately 21 percent of the population and have historically pointed to systemic inequality within the country.

The two political slates competing in the race are Raam, a moderate Islamist faction led by Mansour Abbas, and the Joint List, a left-wing alliance combining communist and Palestinian nationalist groups, headed by Yousef Jabareen. Both figures told AFP that they could collaborate under specific terms with the broader opposition camp, particularly the bloc led by Netanyahu's primary challenger, Gadi Eisenkot, whose faction is running close to the prime minister's in voter surveys.

Abbas made history in 2021 when Raam became the first Arab party to formally enter an Israeli governing coalition. Speaking in Nazareth, the 52-year-old former dentist said his movement aims to act as influential partners in shaping government policy, primarily to tackle the severe wave of violent crime affecting Arab towns. Data from the coexistence group Abraham Initiatives shows that crime has killed over 170 Arab citizens in 2026.

In a novel step, Raam added its first Jewish candidate, Yoav Segalovitz, a former senior police official known for his anti-crime initiatives in Arab localities. Abbas described the inclusion as a demonstration of shared Arab-Jewish cooperation. He dismissed any possibility of joining forces with Netanyahu, stating that his party hopes to secure eight seats and help Eisenkot build a parliamentary majority in the 120-seat legislature.

Jabareen, a 54-year-old human rights academic, adopted a more cautious approach regarding official participation in a cabinet. He stated that the Joint List could provide an external safety net to sustain an alternative administration rather than serving as ministers. He cited ongoing military actions in Gaza, settler violence across the West Bank, and discriminatory laws against Arab residents as major barriers to formal membership in government.

Jabareen stressed that his alliance would not offer unconditional backing to opposition leaders, noting that any formal cooperation would require tangible responses to their policy demands.

Arab voters on the ground have voiced growing frustration over their treatment by the current leadership. Many residents in northern cities reported feelings of deep marginalization, citing rising violence, persistent conflict, and official rhetoric, while expressing hope that the vote will lead to a more moderate administration focused on civil safety and domestic stability.