Israel’s Arab Parties Win Record Seats

Summary

Updated Oct 29, 8:44pm ET

Israel’s Arab-led parties won a historic combined 19 parliamentary seats. Israel’s Central Elections Committee chair asked the Shin Bet to investigate suspicions that foreign entities improperly influenced the election, while saying he could not verify the allegations. Final results gave Netanyahu’s bloc 53 seats, Eisenkot’s bloc 48, and no bloc the 61-seat majority. Netanyahu remains caretaker prime minister while party leaders seek a coalition in Israel’s 120-seat parliament. Eisenkot can reach a majority only with Arab-party support or realignments, a partnership opposition leaders have resisted. Netanyahu and Likud alleged fraud; police and election officials said they found no systematic scheme, and Qatar denied interfering. After certification, President Isaac Herzog will choose someone to try forming a government.

Left and right

From the left

Left-leaning outlets framed Arab turnout as a democratic breakthrough that could still be walled off by Jewish parties resisting shared power. The New York Times lingered on Netanyahu’s use of fear over Arab political power and his unsubstantiated theft claims. CNN stressed the impasse facing any effort to replace Netanyahu, with bargaining likely to be hard and prolonged.

From the right

Right-leaning outlets cast Arab parties as kingmakers, making cooperation with Arab lawmakers the pivotal question for replacing Netanyahu. Fox News emphasized a surge that could help the opposition challenge Netanyahu’s control of parliament. The New York Post tied Arab gains to election-integrity demands and foreign-meddling probes. CBN stressed Netanyahu’s resilient showing and Israel’s lack of a clear path to government.

Israel’s Arab Parties Win Record Seats

Summary

Left and right

From the left

From the right

Both sides, every morning

Articles

Left26

Center9

Right23

Topics

Also today