Gadi Eisenkot has reached a commanding 67-seat threshold in the Knesset after receiving the formal endorsement from the Arab-led Joint List. The announcement arrived swiftly on the heels of Wednesday's backing by the fellow Arab-led faction Ra'am, which pledged eight lawmakers to his coalition bid. Together, these two political groups claimed a record 19 seats in the recent general election. Their unprecedented combined parliamentary strength makes them influential players in determining Israel's next government leadership.
Key points
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a major political blow to his efforts to remain i…: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a major political blow to his efforts to remain in office.
The Joint List and Ra'am achieved a historic record by capturing 19 combined Knesset seat…: The Joint List and Ra'am achieved a historic record by capturing 19 combined Knesset seats.
Arab-led political factions now hold an influential role in deciding the composition of t…: Arab-led political factions now hold an influential role in deciding the composition of the next administration.
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Arab-led Joint List says it will back Eisenkot to form Israel's next government
5 November 2026 16:33 GMT
The Arab-led Joint List has said it will back Israeli opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot to form a new government, dealing a heavy blow to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's efforts to remain in power.
The Joint List announced on Thursday that it would "recommend that Gadi Eisenkot be tasked with forming the government", bringing the total number of lawmakers backing him to 67 in the 120-seat Knesset.
The decision follows Wednesday's endorsement by Ra'am, another Arab-led party, whose eight lawmakers also backed Eisenkot.
The two parties together secured a record 19 seats in last week's general election, giving them a potentially decisive role in determining who forms Israel's next government.
Read more: Arab-led Joint List says it will back Eisenkot to form Israel's next government
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