Knesset Calculus: Palestinian Lawmakers Demand Role in Post-Netanyahu Coalition
Ahmad Tibi calls for a minority cabinet led by Gadi Eisenkot, leveraging the record 19 seats won by Palestinian parties to block the incumbent leader.
By Madison Lewis ·
Ordinary Israeli voters face a political deadlock where neither the incumbent bloc nor the opposition can command a parliamentary majority without the support of Palestinian representatives. This shift places 19 seats held by Arab-led parties at the center of the government formation process. The outcome determines whether Benjamin Netanyahu continues to lead or if Gadi Eisenkot can construct a viable administration.
The mathematical reality of the Knesset has changed. Netanyahu’s coalition secured 53 seats in the recent election, down from 64 in 2022. The opposition holds 67 seats, a number that includes the 11 seats won by the Joint List and the eight seats won by Ra’am. Because a majority requires 61 seats, the Palestinian vote acts as a decisive balance of power. Neither side can form a stable government in isolation.
Ahmad Tibi, leader of the Ta’al party, argued that Eisenkot should form a minority government modeled after the 1993 administration of Yitzhak Rabin. Tibi stated there is no democratic reason to exclude Palestinian representatives from this cooperation. He rejected the idea of a national unity government that might include Likud, arguing such a deal would allow Netanyahu’s policies to persist under different leadership. “We prefer a new government by Eisenkot, as a minority government, and we are ready to help,” Tibi said.
Tibi described the high turnout among Palestinian citizens of Israel as a historic achievement in political self-defense. He dismissed claims that Qatar financed the voting effort, calling the allegations politically motivated tools used by Netanyahu to intimidate voters. He predicted the controversy would dissolve within days and have zero effect on the election results. Tibi noted that Palestinian citizens, who make up roughly one-fifth of the population, have a legitimate right to influence the country’s direction.
The opposition now faces immediate procedural tasks. Tibi urged parties to replace Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, a Likud member, accusing him of fostering hostility toward Palestinian lawmakers. “The best practical step should be removing Amir Ohana, the speaker of the parliament, and voting for the candidate of the opposition. It should be done, no hesitation,” Tibi said. Palestinian lawmakers pledged to support the opposition’s candidate for the speakership.
The next phase of the political process involves formal negotiations between the 67 opposition seats and the 53 incumbent seats. The focus will be on securing a safety net agreement that allows a minority cabinet to survive without joining the Palestinian parties to the cabinet. This arrangement mirrors the mechanism used in previous Israeli governments where outside parties vote against no-confidence motions. The speed of these talks will determine how quickly a new government can be sworn in.
