AI-generated illustration

Ahmed Tibi, leader of the Taal party, said the Joint List is ready to help opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot form a government and bring down Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet. Tibi spoke to Anadolu Agency after the vote count wrapped up in Israel's elections.

Parties representing Palestinian citizens of Israel won 19 seats in total, a historic level of representation that gives them a decisive role in the parliament's arithmetic. The Joint List took 11 seats and the United Arab List (Raam) took 8.

Historic representation for Arab-majority parties

According to official but not yet final results released after the counting of votes was completed, the parties representing Palestinian citizens of Israel reached 19 seats in total, a historic level of representation and a decisive position in the parliament's arithmetic. The Joint List, made up of Hadash, Taal and Balad, won 11 seats, while the United Arab List (Raam) secured 8.

Tibi described the outcome as the success of Arab voters who turned out in large numbers and stood up for themselves. With its 11 lawmakers, the Joint List prevented Netanyahu from forming a government, Tibi said, and Itamar Ben-Gvir will not be national security minister again, nor will Bezalel Smotrich. Those gains, Tibi added, were achievements of a conscious Arab community that acted with political wisdom and a great sense of responsibility.

Aims for coalition talks

Tibi said challenges and responsibilities lie ahead and that the seats won should be used to help bring down the Netanyahu government and to help build a less bad government in its place. Within a framework of understandings with the opposition, the goal is to create a safety net for Palestinians and to topple the government so a new one can be formed, Tibi said, calling on Jewish opposition leaders to stop trading barbs among themselves.

Tibi dismissed reports that Avigdor Liberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party in the opposition bloc, was not answering phone calls, calling it typical behavior aimed at extracting more concessions after the election. Commenting on Liberman's remark that "Bibi (Netanyahu) and Tibi" did not want to sit at the same table, Tibi said the feeling was mutual.

Netanyahu wants another election, Tibi claims

Tibi said Netanyahu wants to go to another election. The prime minister's plan, in Tibi's account, is to stay on as caretaker prime minister, enter a war against Iran in coordination with the United States after the midterm elections there, and then hold a new vote.

The opposition bloc, led by Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot, must form a government to block Netanyahu, Tibi said. "As the Joint List, we are ready to clear the way for Eisenkot and to help him. We have a number of demands on behalf of a safety net for our community," Tibi said.

Fraud claims rejected

Responding to allegations of irregularities made after the parties representing Palestinian citizens of Israel scored a major result, Tibi said the only thieves and usurpers sit in Netanyahu's office. The prime minister is accused of fraud, deceit and abuse of office, Tibi said, and three or four ministers under criminal investigation are the last people who can lecture or accuse anyone.

Tibi said Palestinian citizens of Israel voted in large numbers whatever the circumstances, which upset Netanyahu and his allies. They want Arabs not to vote so they can stay in power, Tibi said, and Arab participation ruined their plans. The claims were media and advertising, Tibi argued, calling them baseless and saying the Shin Bet internal security service, which answers to Netanyahu, had inflated the matter. The aim, Tibi argued, was to block the publication of official results and to prevent a change of parliament speaker, and the claims raised around the Central Elections Committee would not affect the outcome. The electoral process went ahead fairly, Tibi added.

Qatar visit and a message to voters

Tibi answered a post by Netanyahu asking why Ahmed Tibi had travelled to Qatar four days before the election. Tibi said the trip was to give an interview to Al Jazeera that millions watched, after which Tibi returned immediately, and would go again if invited. "The last person who can give us a lesson in honesty and integrity is Benjamin Netanyahu," Tibi said.

Addressing Palestinian citizens of Israel, Tibi said they had written an epic with this turnout, taught the right wing a lesson it will never forget and blocked Netanyahu from forming a right-wing government. The common goal is to bring down this government, Tibi said, adding that there is absolutely no objection to coordinating with the brothers in Raam.

Key takeaways

• Parties representing Palestinian citizens of Israel won 19 seats: 11 for the Joint List and 8 for Raam.
• Taal leader Ahmed Tibi said the Joint List is ready to help Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot form a government to topple Netanyahu.
• Tibi said the seats should be used to build a safety net for Palestinians and to install a less bad government.
• Tibi rejected Netanyahu's fraud allegations as baseless and defended his pre-election trip to Qatar.