Joint List MK Yousef Jabareen indicated Friday that his faction has engaged in unofficial discussions with the Knesset opposition regarding parliamentary cooperation, laying out a series of core demands as a precondition for its support.
In a written statement, the Joint List confirmed that Jabareen acknowledged informal contacts with opposition parties over how its legislators would vote on key proposals. The talks address several structural issues, including the election of the Knesset speaker, the reversal of legislation tied to the controversial judicial overhaul, and the composition of new parliamentary committees.
The newly sworn-in Knesset convened its inaugural session Tuesday and is slated to elect a speaker next week.
Among the Joint List’s primary demands is the repeal of the Kaminitz Law, which expedites home demolitions, alongside a comprehensive strategy to combat violence and crime in Arab communities. The faction also seeks a five-year economic development plan for Arab towns, focusing on allocating necessary budgets and bolstering the capacity of local Arab authorities.
Additional requirements include generating new employment opportunities, developing industrial zones, and advancing housing projects for young couples. The bloc also insists on establishing a dedicated parliamentary committee for the economic and social advancement of Arab society, chaired by the Joint List, tasked with monitoring the implementation of government plans.
The statement framed these remarks against the backdrop of efforts by the “change bloc” — the Jewish opposition holding 48 seats in the 120-member Knesset — to secure control over the legislature and its committees. The Joint List’s 11 seats, combined with the eight held by the United Arab List led by Mansour Abbas, represent a critical voting bloc. Arab citizens constitute roughly 20% of Israel’s population of over 10 million.
President Isaac Herzog tapped National Unity party leader Gadi Eisenkot on Nov. 8 to form a government after the Oct. 27 elections yielded no clear majority for Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc. Eisenkot has 28 days, with a possible two-week extension, to assemble a coalition. He is currently consulting with parliamentary factions to secure a governing majority, while Netanyahu remains in office in a caretaker capacity.
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