Arab parties could hold critical balance of power in Israel's general election

Polls indicate that Arab parties could hold a critical balance of power in Israel's closely fought general election, where Arab Israelis, who account for about a fifth of the population, are strongly motivated to vote against the current right-wing governing coalition led by Benjamin Netanyahu. However, most leading Jewish parties have ruled out forming a coalition with Arab parties, and the main opposition 'Change Bloc' led by Gadi Eisenkot has also excluded Arab parties due to a lack of shared values. Concerns among Arab citizens include systematic discrimination, shrinking freedom of speech, and increased hostility following the Hamas-led assault on October 7, 2023.