Arab parties stand to gain from political chaos in Israel
The Arab Joint List seeks to boost its number of seats in the Israeli Knesset in the March election by increasing turnout in the Arab community, with the ultimate goal of dealing a fatal blow to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, preventing him from forming a government.
RAMALLAH, West Bank — Israel has set March 2 for its next legislative election, which will be its third in less than a year. The Knesset, Israel's parliament, passed a bill Dec. 12 to dissolve itself, though it retains authority until a new election is held.
Israel had held an election in April 2019, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was unable to gain a consensus to form his government, which prompted the Knesset to dissolve itself and head for a second election, on Sept. 17, 2019. The Blue and White party led by Benny Gantz, and Netanyahu's Likud party, obtained almost the same number of seats in the September election and also failed to form a government.
Meanwhile, Arab parties seem to be benefiting the most from the government formation crisis in Israel. The parties were divided in the April 2019 election and ran on two separate lists. In the September election, however, they fielded the united Joint List, winning 13 seats and becoming the third-largest force in the Knesset. In the election slated for March 2, 2020, the Joint List hopes to grab at least two more seats.
Netanyahu seeks to remain in office, though he was indicted last month on charges of bribery, breach of trust and fraud.
