The leader of the Joint List, Yusef Jabarin, indicated this Wednesday that his party is willing to reach agreements with Jewish formations with the aim of bringing about a different government option from that of Benjamin Netanyahu. Although Likud has prevailed in the Israeli elections, the bloc that backs the current prime minister does not obtain the absolute majority of 61 seats in the Knesset.
"Anyone who wants to offer a substantial and genuine alternative to the government of Netanyahu, marked by bloodshed, will have to speak with us to pave the way toward the change that the Israeli people yearn for," Jabarin declared in an interview given to Channel 13 of Israeli television.
In this line, he urged promoting real cooperation between Jewish and Arab forces, underlining that the latter will be decisive in shaping the next Executive by notably increasing their parliamentary representation. "Either racism, exclusion and supremacy are maintained, or genuine collaboration between Jews and Arabs is established," he insisted, emphasizing that his party will use its weight in the Chamber to facilitate Netanyahu's departure.
The Israeli Arab parties have celebrated the unprecedented results obtained at the polls and have reiterated their intention to join a future governing coalition, aware that their support will be decisive in displacing from power the Jewish right-wing bloc that backs the current head of the Executive.
With the count advanced, the Joint List obtains 13 seats and the United Arab List (Raam) adds another six, thus reaching the unprecedented figure of 19 seats in the next Israeli Parliament. This Arab bloc is emerging as a key piece for a coalition headed by the former Chief of Staff, Gadi Eisenkot, to be able to take the Government.