Arab parties could become key in forming Israel's new cabinet

Mandate distribution complicates coalition formation

The political situation in Israel following the latest elections remains uncertain. According to preliminary vote-counting results, neither of the two main political camps has secured enough seats in the Knesset to form a governing majority independently. This means that Arab political forces could become a decisive factor in negotiations over the creation of a new government.

This was stated by Vsevolod Bederson, an expert on Israel's party system, whose words are cited by the publication "Vot Tak".

Preliminary counting figures

According to data obtained after processing a significant portion of the ballots, the bloc of the incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu currently holds 53 seats in the Knesset. The opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot received 48 mandates. The Arab parties, which could play the role of a "swing factor," won 19 seats.

It is important to note that the vote-counting process is not yet complete. Approximately 600,000 votes remain to be processed, which, according to estimates, corresponds to roughly 14 mandates.

Impact of Arab parties on the power process

According to Vsevolod Bederson, with such a balance of power, Arab parties are capable of significantly influencing the course of negotiations on forming the cabinet of ministers. Their support will potentially determine who will head the government, as well as which political structures will enter the ruling coalition.

However, reaching an agreement with the Arab parties will not be easy. Previously, some opposition forces publicly stated that they do not plan to form a coalition involving these parties. Therefore, even after the final distribution of seats in the Knesset is determined, the creation of a stable parliamentary majority cannot be guaranteed.

Outlook for the situation

The further dynamics of political processes will depend not only on the final number of mandates received but also on the readiness of various political forces to negotiate and seek compromises. While the vote counting continues, it is impossible to accurately determine the final composition of the future government.