Israel’s Joint List discusses support for an alternative government to replace Netanyahu, while saying formal coalition entry is unlikely

Ahmad Tibi, a senior Arab lawmaker, said the Joint List is in talks with the bloc opposing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about forming an alternative government after Tuesday’s parliamentary election. In an interview with Israel’s state-owned Kan Reshet Bet Radio, he said the alliance of Arab-led parties was ready to help the so-called change bloc replace Netanyahu, though formal participation in a governing coalition was unlikely.

Tibi said the Joint List was open to discussing parliamentary arrangements in exchange for progress on issues affecting Israel’s Arab minority, including crime, house demolitions, infrastructure and incitement.

Yair Golan, leader of the center-left Democrats party, urged his allies to drop their refusal to cooperate with Arab parties. Yousef Jabareen, chairman of the Joint List, also expressed willingness to help Gadi Eisenkot replace Netanyahu.

Vote counting was continuing, and neither Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc nor the rival bloc led by Eisenkot had secured the 61 seats needed for a parliamentary majority. Israel’s Central Elections Committee projected, with about 77 percent of votes counted, that Netanyahu’s bloc would win 54 seats and Eisenkot’s bloc 49. The Joint List and the Muslim Ra’am party were projected to win 17 seats combined.