The Arab-led Joint List has announced its support for Israeli opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot to form a new government, which could potentially prevent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from remaining in power. The Joint List, along with another Arab-led party Ra'am, has endorsed Eisenkot, bringing the total number of lawmakers backing him to 67 in the 120-seat Knesset.
The two Arab-led parties secured a record 19 seats in the recent general election, giving them a significant role in determining the next government. Netanyahu's right-wing bloc won 53 seats, while the opposition alliance led by Eisenkot secured 48, leaving both camps short of the required 61 seats to govern independently.
The Joint List's decision to back Eisenkot is intended to widen the gap between him and Netanyahu, despite the opposition's failure to sufficiently challenge Netanyahu's policies. Eisenkot and his opposition partners have faced divisions over cooperation with Arab-led parties, with conditions set for potential partners, including recognizing Israel as a Jewish state and condemning Hamas.
The endorsements from the Arab-led parties do not necessarily mean they will join an Eisenkot-led government, but rather support it from outside the coalition.