Thousands of Israelis call for coalition with Arab parties
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Webdo
Thousands of demonstrators in Tel Aviv called for a coalition between the opposition and Arab parties to replace Benjamin Netanyahu. After the 27 October election, Arab lists hold 19 seats and could bring the opposition to 67 of the Knesset’s 120 members, according to Al Jazeera, which cites AFP among others.
Thousands of demonstrators called on Saturday 31 October in Tel Aviv for a coalition government between Jewish and Arab parties to replace Benjamin Netanyahu. They urged Gadi Eisenkot, the Israeli prime minister’s main rival, to cooperate with Arab parties, according to Webdo, citing Al Jazeera and accounts gathered by AFP.
The 27 October parliamentary election gave Netanyahu’s bloc 53 seats and the opposition parties led by Eisenkot 48. The 19 lawmakers from Arab lists could enable the opposition to exceed the 61 seats needed for a majority in the Knesset, which has 120 members. An alliance between the parties would theoretically bring them 67 seats.
The terms of any potential agreement remain contested. Mansour Abbas, leader of Raam, said he was ready to join a government, while Youssef Jabareen, a senior figure in the Joint List, favours parliamentary support without joining the government. Eisenkot demands, among other things, recognition of Israel as a Jewish, democratic and liberal state, as well as recognition of Hamas as a terrorist organisation.
The demonstration comes after Netanyahu’s bloc lost its majority in the 27 October vote. The following day, Netanyahu’s coalition won 53 seats, short of an absolute majority.
