Majority of Israeli Opposition Voters Favor Coalition With Arab Party

A significant majority of opposition voters in Israel favor forming a government led by Gadi Eisenkot and including the Arab Ra'am party, according to a survey conducted on election night. The poll, by the Accord Center of the Hebrew University and released now, found that 61% of voters from the four main parties in the "change bloc" support such a coalition. These parties include Yashar, B’Yachad, the Democrats, and Yisrael Beitenu. The survey indicated that cooperation with Ra'am, led by Mansour Abbas, is by far the most attractive option for this voter segment, with other possibilities receiving considerably less support. Only 12% would consider a government with a rotation of the prime minister role between Benjamin Netanyahu and another politician, and just 7% favored a coalition with ultra-Orthodox parties. The survey of 467 opposition voters took place on October 27th. The findings highlight strong support for a Ra'am partnership among opposition supporters, contrasting with the reservations of several leading "change bloc" politicians. While Eisenkot, Bennett, and Lieberman have previously opposed including Arab parties in a coalition, Yair Golan advocates for it as a means to overcome political deadlock and replace Netanyahu. The post-election landscape, where neither the incumbent nor the opposition holds a Knesset majority, makes such cooperation a critical factor for forming a stable government. The four opposition parties had agreed to coordinate their campaigns but had not finalized plans for a joint government, particularly regarding the inclusion of Arab parties. On the evening of the survey, a demonstration was held outside Eisenkot's home in Herzliya, advocating for the inclusion of Arab parties in a government he might lead.