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Arab parties extend a hand to try to topple Netanyahu but challenges remain

Israeli Arab parties in the Joint List have agreed to recommend former military chief Gadi Eisenkot as prime minister during presidential consultations, a historic shift from their long-standing refusal to endorse any Zionist candidate. The move gives Eisenkot a narrow majority of Knesset recommendations, though he still lacks a clear path to a 61-seat coalition. President Isaac Herzog is wrapping up talks with party leaders and must decide whom to tap first for government formation.

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⚡ Key Developments & Real-Time Context
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  • ✓ Joint List agreed to recommend Gadi Eisenkot as prime minister during presidential consultations.
  • ✓ Eisenkot received a majority of Knesset recommendations after the Joint List endorsement.
  • ✓ President Isaac Herzog is conducting consultations with party leaders to choose a candidate for government formation.
  • ✓ Arab parties in Israel have historically refused to endorse Zionist candidates for prime minister.
🛡️ Source Corroboration: 24 independent reporting domains (90% confidence) ⏱ Read time: ~2 min

What changed

Joint List announced it will recommend Gadi Eisenkot for prime minister, handing him a majority of Knesset endorsements in presidential consultations.

Live updates

  1. Arab parties back Gantz rival Eisenkot to unseat Netanyahu

    Israeli Arab parties in the Joint List have agreed to recommend former military chief Gadi Eisenkot as prime minister during presidential consultations, a historic shift from their long-standing refusal to endorse any Zionist candidate. The move gives Eisenkot a narrow majority of Knesset recommendations, though he still lacks a clear path to a 61-seat coalition. President Isaac Herzog is wrapping up talks with party leaders and must decide whom to tap first for government formation.

    Why it matters

    After Israel's fifth election in under four years produced no outright winner, the balance of power rests on whether anti-Netanyahu factions can overcome deep ideological divides. Arab parties have traditionally stayed outside governing coalitions; their willingness to back a former IDF chief of staff signals a tactical pivot to block Netanyahu's return. Yet the bloc backing Eisenkot spans left-wing, centrist, and right-wing parties that disagree on Palestinian statehood, religious law, and judicial reform.

    What is confirmed

    • Joint List agreed to recommend Gadi Eisenkot as prime minister during presidential consultations.
    • Eisenkot received a majority of Knesset recommendations after the Joint List endorsement.
    • President Isaac Herzog is conducting consultations with party leaders to choose a candidate for government formation.
    • Arab parties in Israel have historically refused to endorse Zionist candidates for prime minister.

    Still unconfirmed

    • Eisenkot may attempt to form a minority government reliant on Arab party support from outside the coalition.
    • Netanyahu could still secure the mandate if Herzog decides the right-wing bloc has better coalition prospects.

    What to watch next

    • Herzog's announcement of which candidate receives the first mandate to form a government
    • Whether Eisenkot can translate recommendations into a viable 61-seat coalition
    • Potential negotiations between Joint List and centrist parties on policy red lines
    Sources used for this update (29)
    1. economictimes.indiatimes.com — Business News Live, Share Market News - Read Latest Finance News, IPO ...
    2. english.aawsat.com — Latest World News
    3. en.wikipedia.org — Arabs - Wikipedia
    4. en.wikipedia.org — Arab world - Wikipedia
    5. teachmideast.org — Arab, Middle Eastern, and Muslim? What’s the Difference?!
    6. www.huffpost.com — ‘Why Not Bob?’ The Democrat Taking On One Of Republicans’ Toughest Incumbents | HuffPost Latest News
    7. www.asiaone.com — AsiaOne, Asia's Leading News Portal, Get Latest News at AsiaOne
    8. www.clickondetroit.com — US bans imports from 3 Chinese biotech companies over forced labor allegations
    9. www.courant.com — Whatever the outcome of Israel’s election, its policies toward the Palestinians will largely endure
    10. NBC News — Israel’s president accepts certified election results ahead of talks on forming of new government
    11. BBC — Israel's president to begin consultations with parties after election deadlock
    12. Al Jazeera — Israel’s Herzog accepts vote results, opens talks on forming a government
    confidence 90%
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