Arab Parties Offer to Back Anti-Netanyahu Coalition, but Obstacles Remain

Israel's Arab Joint List party has signaled willingness to support an anti-Netanyahu government, breaking with precedent to end the prime minister's rule, though significant political obstacles remain for both sides. The Joint List, which won 11 seats in recent elections, offers outside support rather than joining a coalition, potentially easing concerns among Jewish-led factions. Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot's bloc won 48 seats versus Netanyahu's 53, making Arab parties crucial for forming a majority. Arab parties have historically been viewed with suspicion by Jewish Israelis, and the Joint List rejects Israel's identity as a Jewish state. Eisenkot demands they condemn Hamas as a terrorist group, a condition the Joint List refuses, citing Israel's military campaign in Gaza.