Arab parties reject Eisenkot coalition, back it from outside

Arab parties in Israel rejected joining Gadi Eisenkot's cabinet but are ready to support a new government from outside to keep Benjamin Netanyahu from returning as prime minister. Joint List, through Ahmad Tibi, said the move was meant to avoid making coalition negotiations harder amid opposition from right-wing parties to Arab parties. In the official vote count, Eisenkot's bloc won 48 seats, Netanyahu's bloc 53 seats, while Joint List won 11 seats and Ra'am 8 seats. To form a government, a prime ministerial candidate must control at least 61 seats in the Knesset. Eisenkot had previously opened the door to a coalition for parties that accept Israel as a Jewish, democratic, liberal and egalitarian state, and recognize Hamas as a terrorist organization. Israel's next president will nominate the candidate considered most likely to build a coalition within 28 days.