The key facts

  • Leaders of the 'Joint List' (Hadash, Ta'al, Balad) called on Arab voters to turn out in high numbers in the October 27 election to oust Netanyahu, Ben-Gvir and Smotrich.
  • Polls give the list about nine seats; Jabareen hopes for '10 seats or more'.
  • Neither Netanyahu's bloc nor the opposition led by Gadi Eisenkot reaches the 61-seat majority; both politicians rule out an alliance with Arab parties.

Press Conference in Haifa

On Tuesday, October 20, 2026, the leaders of Israel's Arab parties said at a press conference in Haifa that they would work through the 'Joint List' alliance to oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the October 27 Knesset elections. They stressed that higher turnout among Arab voters could prevent Netanyahu and his right-wing coalition from forming a new government, but at the same time acknowledged that an alternative government would not necessarily meet their aspirations. The conference was attended by Joint List leader Yousef Jabareen (Democratic Front for Peace and Equality, 'Hadash'), the head of the alliance's parliamentary bloc Ahmad Tibi (Arab Movement for Change, 'Ta'al') and the leader of the Balad party, Sami Abu Shehade. Arab citizens make up about 20% of Israel's population, which exceeds 10 million people.

Jabareen: Turnout Will Ensure a Change of Government

Jabareen said the alliance is gaining ground in the polls and hopes to receive '10 seats or more'. 'Higher turnout in our Arab community will ensure the ouster of Netanyahu's government,' he said. He pledged to strengthen the alliance's international presence by engaging with influential institutions and governments to defend the rights of Arab citizens and the Palestinian people. In his words, the 'Joint List' must become a 'safety net' for the people — against violence and crime, the policy of home demolitions, as well as on social and economic issues and in defending young people's right to a dignified future. He also called for ensuring protection from attacks on the Al-Aqsa Mosque, churches and monks in Jerusalem, and added that anyone who wants to offer an alternative to the far-right government must engage in dialogue with the alliance on these issues.

Tibi: 'The Lesser of Two Evils'

Tibi said the 'Joint List' would work to ensure that Netanyahu does not remain prime minister of a transitional government and would help pave the way to an alternative administration. 'We understand that any alternative government will not be our dream government, but we are facing a choice between bad and worse,' he said. In his words, the main and urgent task is to bring down the government of Netanyahu, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and not allow them to remain in power. Tibi noted that the alliance has reached nine seats in the polls, but the projected Arab turnout, although rising, remains insufficient to unseat the government. He also expressed readiness to cooperate with other political forces to repeal the Kaminitz law, which facilitates the demolition of Arab homes. 'We are determined and extend a hand to everyone who wants to sweep away this extremist government,' he added.

Abu Shehade: Progress in the Polls Is Not Enough

Abu Shehade said that Arab citizens — workers, doctors, drivers, civil servants and students — face oppression, and stressed the need to end these violations. 'It is true that the Joint List is advancing seriously and steadily in the polls, and that is good, but it is not enough,' he said, adding that people in every city and village are demanding change. In his view, a strong and influential 'Joint List' is necessary to prevent the return to power of Netanyahu, Smotrich and Ben-Gvir and to protect the Arab community.

The Poll Picture

According to polls, the contest between Netanyahu's bloc and the Jewish opposition led by former Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot is neck and neck, and neither camp reaches the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. Recent polls give the 'Joint List' nine seats and Mansour Abbas's 'United Arab List' five. Cooperation between Jewish opposition parties and Arab parties could prevent Netanyahu from forming a government, but most opposition leaders reject such cooperation, and both Netanyahu and Eisenkot have so far ruled out alliances with Arab parties. The conditions of Arab lawmakers for supporting any government include ending the wars, opening a political horizon with the Palestinian people and ending discrimination against Palestinian citizens of Israel.