Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 11:17am on 05 Nov 2026,Thursday International
Israel’s Arab-led Ra’am party has backed opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot to form the next government following the October 27 parliamentary elections. The party announced its decision ahead of consultations with President Isaac Herzog on November 5. Ra’am’s 8 lawmakers bring Eisenkot’s expected support to 56, ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s 53. However, neither side has secured the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-member Knesset. The backing strengthens Eisenkot’s chances of receiving the first opportunity to form a government. The Joint List’s position could prove crucial in the ongoing coalition negotiations.
