INTERVIEW - Our goal is to ‘unseat’ Netanyahu; Arab turnout above 70% could prevent his return, Joint List leader says

Yusuf Jabareen tells Anadolu alliance’s main goal is to unseat Netanyahu government in Oct. 27 election ‘Arabs will determine identity of next prime minister in Israel,’ he says Joint List leader says position on backing Gadi Eisenkot would be decided after election results and based on opposition’s political program Joint List leader Yusuf Jabareen said a turnout of more than 70% among Arab citizens in Israel could prevent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from forming another government in the Oct. 27 Knesset election. “There is a strong and serious desire among Arab citizens to bring down this government through the ballot box,” Jabareen told Anadolu in an interview, describing Netanyahu’s government as “fascist and occupying.” Recent opinion polls have projected about nine seats for the Joint List in the 120-member Knesset. The alliance brings together the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality, the National Democratic Assembly and the Arab Movement for Change. Netanyahu has headed the current government since late December 2022. ‘We have suffered greatly’ “If the turnout among Arab citizens rises above 70%, Netanyahu will not be able to form a government,” Jabareen said. “Over the past four years, we have suffered greatly: a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, terrorism by Israeli occupiers in the occupied West Bank, policies of repression and restrictions on freedoms, land confiscations and home demolitions,” he said. “Arab citizens have increasingly become aware of the danger posed by the government and its policies,” Jabareen said. ​​​​​​​“There is a strong and serious desire to bring down this government by going to the ballot box, and we hope turnout will reach unprecedented levels,” he said. He argued that a strong Joint List showing would help prevent the return of a government led by Netanyahu with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Recent polls indicate that neither Netanyahu’s bloc nor the Jewish opposition bloc is currently projected to secure the 61 seats required to form a government. Jabareen said that gives Arab lawmakers a potentially decisive role. “Arabs are the ones who will determine the identity of the next prime minister in Israel,” he said. “Polls show Netanyahu’s bloc receiving around 52 seats and the opposition bloc the same number. Therefore, we in the Joint List will undoubtedly be an important force in deciding several questions, including who will be Knesset speaker and who will form the government.” “The alliance would use any parliamentary strength it gains to protect the issues of our people including equality for Palestinians inside Israel and broader Palestinian concerns,” he said. Backing opposition not decided Polls suggest the Jewish opposition would need support from Arab parties to form a government, although most opposition leaders have rejected such cooperation. Asked whether Arab lawmakers would be prepared to support Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot in forming a government, Jabareen said it was too early to announce a position. “After the results are announced, we will assess the situation and see how the different blocs take shape,” he said. “We want to hear the political program of whoever seeks to be the alternative to Netanyahu.” Jabareen stressed that simply replacing one political figure with another without changing policies would not be enough. “We are seeking real change, and we hope to hear an actual change in the political positions of the opposition parties,” he said. “We will make the responsible leadership decision based on what serves our people.” Goal is to unseat Netanyahu government Jabareen said the parties making up the Joint List agree on one central objective: “Unseating Netanyahu and removing his government from power.” He described the government as “far-right and fascist,” saying the alliance viewed its potential return as a serious threat because of its wars, discrimination and what he called “apartheid policies.” “We feel these elections are decisive and may even be existential because they relate to our status as Palestinians inside Israel and also to the future of the Palestinian people as a whole,” he said. Asked whether the Joint List could significantly boost participation among Arab voters, Jabareen said the alliance was seeing growing interest. “In all our meetings with our people, we hear this desire, and we also hear their assessment of the danger of this government and its policies,” he said. “Arab turnout in the previous election did not exceed 55%,” Jabareen said. “We are optimistic that there is growing awareness among our voters of the importance of raising turnout,” he said. “A turnout exceeding 70% could truly be the guarantee for bringing down this government.” “We are working around the clock to achieve unprecedented turnout in this election because that is the only thing that will guarantee that this extremist, racist and occupying government does not return,” he added. The United Arab List, led by Mansour Abbas, is contesting the election separately and is projected by polls to win five seats. Arab citizens make up around 20% of Israel’s population of 10 million, while polls project Arab parties to secure between 12 and 14 Knesset seats. Higher Arab voter participation could also affect the ability of smaller right-wing parties to clear the electoral threshold, potentially reducing Netanyahu’s chances of assembling a governing coalition. The Oct. 27 election comes as Netanyahu faces corruption charges, including bribery, fraud and breach of trust. The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in November 2024 on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip.