Israel’s Arab parties coordinate ahead of Herzog consultations as they weigh backing Eisenkot to block Netanyahu

Israel’s two Arab-led parliamentary blocs met Monday for the first time since last week’s election to coordinate their positions ahead of President Isaac Herzog’s consultations on who should be tasked with forming the next government.

The Joint List and Ra’am together won 19 seats, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc secured 53 and the Jewish-led opposition 48, leaving neither side with the 61 seats needed for a majority.

Ahmad Tibi, head of the Joint List’s parliamentary bloc, said the meeting was aimed at replacing the Netanyahu government and coordinating with Ra’am before Herzog begins consultations on Wednesday.

Arab lawmakers have signaled they may recommend Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot for prime minister. If all 19 Arab lawmakers join the opposition parties already backing him, Eisenkot could receive 67 recommendations compared with 53 for Netanyahu’s bloc.

That would strengthen Eisenkot’s case for receiving the first mandate to form a government, but would not guarantee he could assemble a governing coalition. The Joint List has said it does not intend to join the government and could instead support an alternative from outside.

Israel’s newly elected Knesset will hold its inaugural session on November 10, when lawmakers will be sworn in and a speaker will be elected.