Joint List Offers Support for Netanyahu Alternative Government

Yousef Jabareen, head of the Joint List, announced the party's readiness to provide a "safety net" for any government aiming to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration. This declaration comes just 17 days before the upcoming Knesset elections.

Jabareen stated in a video released Saturday evening that forming an alternative government without negotiating with the Joint List would be impossible, estimating that such a government would need to include Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. He emphasized that the Joint List does not offer unconditional support, requiring any party seeking their backing to negotiate the demands and priorities of the Arab community.

The announcement signals the Joint List's willingness to explore political cooperation to potentially change the current government, contingent on clear political and social conditions. Jabareen described the upcoming election as pivotal for the Arab community, citing a rise in racism and fascism and worsening crises faced by Arab citizens in Israel. He asserted that the Joint List represents the broadest possible unity among Arab parties and currents, believing that unified ranks enhance their political weight and influence in forming the next government.

Jabareen stressed that providing a safety net for an alternative government must prioritize protecting the Arab community and combating crime and violence through a clear plan with timelines, budgets, and oversight mechanisms. He clarified that political influence does not mean compromising principles or accepting all demands from potential partners, stating the Joint List would not support war budgets, settlements, the Nation-State Law, or remain silent on developments in Gaza, the West Bank, and Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Jabareen's announcement comes despite previous rejections of cooperation with Arab parties by several factions within the anti-Netanyahu bloc, and some party leaders have also refused to cooperate with Mansour Abbas's United Arab List. The Joint List's readiness to negotiate presents a political test, as its actual influence depends on other parties' willingness to engage and accept its conditions. Netanyahu may leverage Jabareen's statement in his campaign, which warns against a government reliant on Arab party support, potentially making the Joint List's stance a focal point in the election debate over potential post-election coalitions.