Israel’s general election of 27 October 2026 has produced a political deadlock, raising a fundamental question: can a state claim to uphold democracy while its political leaders resist cooperation with a significant section of its own electorate, and while Palestinians continue to face occupation, displacement and devastating violence?

The election has left neither of the two principal Jewish-led political blocs with the parliamentary majority needed to govern independently. Yet Arab-led parties have emerged with unprecedented electoral strength, potentially holding the balance of power. Their success has created an opportunity to test whether Israel’s political system is based on democratic representation of a diverse population or racial exclusion.

A divided Parliament

Israel’s 120-member Knesset requires at least 61 seats for a parliamentary majority. Election results reported on 29 October indicate that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc is on course to secure 53 seats, while the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot is projected to win 48. The Arab-led Joint List and Ra’am are projected to hold a combined 19 seats. The results remain provisional pending the completion of the count.

These figures reveal the central political dilemma. Netanyahu’s bloc is the largest, but it lacks a majority. Eisenkot’s opposition bloc has also fallen short. Neither can form a government without attracting additional support, persuading members of rival blocs to cooperate, or finding an arrangement with the Arab-led parties.

Netanyahu has called for a right-wing government, while Eisenkot faces difficult choices about welcoming Arab parties to form government. Netanyahu remains a caretaker prime minister while the political parties negotiate. The possibility of a broader coalition or another election cannot be ruled out.

Arab parties the kingmakers

The most consequential development is the electoral gain of the Arab-led parties. Their projected 19 seats would represent a historic high, reflecting increased participation among Arab voters and their determination to influence the country's political direction. Overall turnout was reported at approximately 78 per cent, with particularly strong participation among Arab voters.

Israel uses a proportional representation system. Voters cast their ballots for political parties rather than individual constituency candidates. Parties receive parliamentary seats according to their share of the vote, subject to the electoral threshold, and candidates enter the Knesset according to their party lists.

The Arab-led parties' electoral performance therefore presents Israel with a critical democratic test. Will their votes be recognised as part of the country's democratic mandate, or will political and racial barriers prevent them from exercising meaningful influence?

Political racism?

Sami Abu Shehadeh, the leader of the Arab party Balad, has argued that racism is preventing Israeli opposition leaders from cooperating with Arab-led parties to remove Netanyahu from office. In comments reported by Al Jazeera, he criticised the exclusion of a community representing a substantial proportion of the population from the possibility of governing.

Ahmad Tibi, leader of Ta’al, has also said that the opposition had approached his political camp to discuss cooperation on replacing the speaker of the Knesset. These developments suggest that political contacts may be possible even when a formal governing coalition remains controversial.

The reluctance of major Jewish-led parties to work with Arab-led parties raises serious questions about Israel’s democracy and the equal citizenship of Arabs. If elected representatives are rejected just because of their Arab identity, the principle of equal representation will be violated.

The election has placed this principle under intense scrutiny. If the opposition wishes to demonstrate that it represents a genuine alternative, it must explain how it intends to uphold its commitment to real democracy.

Netanyahu’s political survival

Netanyahu’s political future is a dominating issue. Although his bloc has fallen short of a parliamentary majority, he will try hard for his political survival through defections from rival parties or an agreement with other political factions.

His legal difficulties also remain significant. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant in November 2024, alleging responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with the situation in Palestine.

Netanyahu also faces a domestic corruption trial. His political opponents have argued that accountability, the rule of law and the restoration of public confidence should be central considerations in forming the next government.

Nevertheless, political accountability must be pursued through lawful and independent institutions, rather than through electoral arithmetic alone. The public interest requires respect for the rule of law, investigation of credible allegations and acceptance of appropriate judicial scrutiny.

For the opposition, the challenge is therefore twofold: to establish a viable alternative government and to demonstrate that its commitment to accountability extends beyond removing a political rival.

Gaza and the West Bank: The unresolved humanitarian crisis

The significance of Israel’s election cannot be separated from the devastating consequences of the war in Gaza and the continuing crisis in the occupied West Bank.

Palestinians have endured mass displacement, extensive destruction of homes and civilian infrastructure, severe restrictions on movement and essential supplies and the loss of countless lives. In the West Bank, illegal settlement expansion, settler violence, demolitions and forced displacement have intensified concerns about the future of Palestinian communities and their ability to remain on their ancestral lands.

The International Court of Justice has issued provisional measures in the genocide case brought by South Africa against Israel. These measures are legally significant and have serious consequences.

These legal procedures do not diminish the urgency of the humanitarian crisis or the need for accountability. They reinforce the importance of applying international law consistently, protecting civilians and ensuring that credible allegations of serious violations are investigated.

For Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the consequences of Israeli political decisions impact on their survival, shelter, freedom of movement, access to healthcare, education, livelihoods and the right to live without the constant threat of displacement or violence.

Any meaningful improvement would require concrete changes in military conduct, humanitarian access, settlement policy, protection of civilians and respect for Palestinian rights.

The future of Palestinian land

The expansion of Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory remains one of the central obstacles to a just and lasting peace. The international community has widely regarded these settlements as illegal under international law, a position reflected in international legal assessments and United Nations resolutions.

Palestinian families have faced displacement and the loss of access to agricultural land and ancestral homes, while reports of settler violence supported by the IDF have raised serious concerns about the protection afforded to vulnerable communities.

A government that claims democratic legitimacy must also be judged by its treatment of people who live under its authority or are affected by its policies. True democracy must be assessed through equality before the law, protection of minorities, freedom from racial discrimination, judicial independence and respect for fundamental rights.

Israel's supporters may point to its competitive elections, but critics, meanwhile, argue that the treatment of Palestinians and inequalities affecting Arab citizens reveal serious contradictions between democratic principles and political practice.

The central issue is whether democratic rights and legal protections are applied consistently, rather than selectively according to identity.

Netanyahu’s nervousness

The election has also been overshadowed by allegations from Netanyahu’s Likud party that Arab-led parties engaged in electoral fraud. Likud has called for an investigation and said it has submitted evidence to the relevant authorities. Election officials, however, have reported few irregularities, and the allegations should not be treated as established facts without independent verification.

The same standards of evidence and due process must apply to every party, irrespective of ethnicity, religion or political affiliation.

At the same time, allegations of fraud must not become a pretext for undermining legitimate representation or excluding elected Arab politicians from public life.

The international dimension

Israel’s political future also has implications for its international relationships. The war in Gaza, the humanitarian consequences of military operations, settlement expansion and the treatment of Palestinians have generated intense international criticism and legal scrutiny.

The United States and European governments face continuing questions about how their diplomatic, military and economic relationships with Israel align with their stated commitments to human rights and international law.

Recently, several US and European journalists and politicians were physically attacked by the so-called settlers with the help of Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Their only crime was that they wanted to see by themselves what is happening with the helpless Palestinian farmers as they were forced out of their ancestral homes and farms by the foreign occupiers.

The criticism of Israeli government policy must not be conflated with hostility towards Jewish people. Criticising brutality of Israeli vigilantes, government and security forces is not antisemitism. So, allegations of antisemitism should not be used to silence legitimate criticism of state policies, settlement practices or violations of Palestinian rights.

The same principle applies to the protection of Arab and Muslim communities from prejudice and collective blame. Human rights are universal, not conditional on religion, nationality or political alignment.

A democratic test

The election presents Israel’s political leaders with a choice.

Cooperation with Arab-led parties would not automatically resolve Israel’s conflicts or guarantee equal rights for Palestinians. Nor would the exclusion of those parties, by itself, settle every question about whether Israel qualifies as a democracy. But the reasons for inclusion or exclusion matter greatly.

If political leaders reject cooperation solely because Arab representatives are Arab, the resulting exclusion will raise a serious question about equal citizenship. If they reject particular parties because of specific policies or conduct, those reasons should be clearly stated and consistently applied.

Eisenkot and other opposition leaders must explain how they intend to uphold democratic equality while navigating their stated political commitments.

Conclusion

Israel’s election of 27 October 2026 has produced no straightforward victor. The deeper question, however, extends beyond the formation of a government. Can Israel reconcile its democratic institutions with the equal political rights of Arab citizens and the fundamental rights of Palestinians living under occupation?

The people of Gaza cannot wait indefinitely for political leaders to resolve their rivalries. Palestinian families facing displacement in the West Bank cannot be expected to regard continued loss of homes and land as an ordinary consequence of another election.

Democracy is more than the right to cast a ballot. It requires equal citizenship, accountable government, independent justice and protection from discrimination.

Israel’s election has therefore created a test that cannot be answered by seat counts alone: will political power be exercised in the service of equal rights and human dignity, or will exclusion and inequality continue to define the political reality?

The answer will matter not only to Israeli voters but also to Palestinians, the wider Middle East and the international community.