Arab Lawmaker in Israel Considers Breaking Precedent to Oppose Netanyahu

In a significant political shift, a veteran Arab lawmaker in Israel has expressed willingness to break with decades of precedent to ally with Jewish-led parties in an effort to oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Ahmad Tibi, a senior member of the Arab Joint List, stated that his bloc is prepared to take unprecedented steps to end what he describes as a “criminal government.”

Any such partnership, however, is likely to be politically contentious. For the Joint List, supporting a Jewish-led government would mean backing a coalition unlikely to address core Palestinian concerns, such as settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank or the ongoing conflicts. Conversely, for Netanyahu’s opponents, aligning with Arab parties involves partnering with factions that criticize Israeli policies and reject Israel’s definition as a Jewish state.

Following historic voter turnout that secured Arab-led parties a record share of seats in the Knesset, Tibi indicated that the Joint List is open to providing external support to an anti-Netanyahu government without formally joining the administration. This approach could reassure skeptical Jewish-led factions while satisfying the Joint List’s own constituents, ultimately granting the bloc substantial political leverage.

To date, only one Arab party, the more conciliatory Ra’am, has ever served in an Israeli government, in 2021. While Ra’am has expressed willingness to join another anti-Net coalition, any such arrangement would likely require the support of the Joint List. Tibi argued that if Jewish-led parties reject such a partnership, it would expose Israel as an “ethnocracy, rather than an absolute democracy for all citizens.”

The Joint List, a coalition of left-wing and nationalist factions, fundamentally opposes what it terms the “racist Zionist consensus.” The bloc advocates for equal rights and supports the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. These stances have historically put the Joint List at odds with the majority of Jewish Israelis, who view such positions as a threat to national security, particularly during times of conflict.

This dynamic presents a complex dilemma for Netanyahu’s primary opponents, led by former general Gadi Eisenkot. During the campaign, they framed Netanyahu as a corrupt leader whose far-right coalition endangered Israel’s democratic institutions. With 48 seats compared to Netanyahu’s 53, the Arab-led parties—specifically the Joint List’s 11 seats and Ra’an’s 8—hold the balance of power necessary to form an anti-Netanyahu majority.

The Joint List could facilitate a shift in power by voting for or abstaining from a coalition, allowing opposition parties to form a government without directly participating in an administration conducting military operations in Gaza and Lebanon, which they oppose. However, some of Eisenkot’s allies remain divided over welcoming Arab support, citing past statements from Joint List leaders that critics argue deny Israel’s legitimacy.

Tibi acknowledged that a partnership with Netanyahu’s opponents would not immediately end the conflicts or establish a Palestinian state. However, he emphasized that a “repair government” could improve the lives of Palestinian citizens by ending Netanyahu’s rule and addressing local issues, such as rising violence in Arab communities.

Eisenkot has stipulated that any Arab-led party seeking partnership must formally designate Hamas as a terrorist organization. Tibi countered that such conditions do not apply to parties offering external support. While the Joint List and Ra’an have condemned the October 7 attacks and violence against civilians, they have refused to label Hamas a terrorist group, arguing that doing so would justify Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Tibi described both the initial attack and Israel’s subsequent response as immoral.

Long a target of right-wing campaigns, Tibi noted that Netanyahu’s past slogan, “Bibi or Tibi?”—used to warn voters against relying on Arab parties—has been effectively turned on its head. “Now, it’s ‘Tibi,’ because Arab voters turned out in massive numbers to participate in the elections,” Tibi stated, asserting that the Arab electorate has ultimately shaped the current political landscape.

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