Thousands in Tel Aviv Rally for Jewish-Arab Coalition to Oust Netanyahu
Thousands of Israelis rallied in Tel Aviv on Saturday, calling for a Jewish-Arab coalition to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after final election results showed his bloc falling short of a parliamentary majority. The demonstration came after Tuesday’s inconclusive vote, in which Netanyahu’s right-religious bloc won 53 seats and the anti-Netanyahu camp secured 48, with neither reaching the 61-seat threshold in the 120-member Knesset. Protesters held signs reading “Arabs and Jews will only win together” and “There is a majority for change,” underscoring the push for unity across ethnic lines.nnThe rally highlighted the potential for a broad anti-Netanyahu coalition, as Arab-majority parties made significant gains in Tuesday’s election. The two main Arab-led parties, Raam and the Joint List, secured a combined 19 seats, fueled by anger over rhetoric targeting the Arab community from Netanyahu’s hard-right government. An alliance between the anti-Netanyahu Jewish parties (48 seats) and the Arab parties (19 seats) would give the bloc a comfortable majority of 67 seats. However, the idea faces opposition from some parties within the opposition bloc, and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot has not yet decided whether to seek a coalition with Arab parties, having previously ruled it out.nnThe deadlock has intensified pressure on Eisenkot to reconsider his stance. With no clear path to a government without Arab support, the rally organizers and attendees urged him to seize the opportunity. “The only way to replace Netanyahu is through a Jewish-Arab coalition,” said one protester, echoing the sentiment of many. The demonstration, which drew around 500 protesters according to some reports, reflects growing grassroots demand for political cooperation that transcends traditional divides.nnThe election results have left Israel’s political landscape in flux, with Netanyahu’s bloc unable to secure a majority and the opposition fragmented. The Arab parties’ strong showing has positioned them as potential kingmakers, but deep-seated reluctance among some Jewish parties to partner with them remains a hurdle. As negotiations continue, the Tel Aviv rally serves as a clear message that a significant portion of the public supports a united front to oust the long-serving prime minister. “We are here to
Shimanta Das 
