Election still in the balance as incomplete results show no clear path to coalition; Islamist Ra’am party defies exit polls, makes it into Knesset; final tally expected Friday

The new potential kingmaker, Ra’am party leader Mansour Abbas, continues to remain vague on who he might cooperate with to form a coalition amid the elections that hand no bloc a clear majority.

Arab parties have only been part of a coalition once, in the 1990s, to help pass the Oslo Accords with the Palestinians. But the current deadlock could force collaborations that were unthinkable until not long ago.

If Prime Minister Netanyahu manages to get Ra’am to join, it would be an almost fantasy coalition, consisting of members of the Islamic Movement alongside the neo-Kahanist and anti-Arab Itamar Ben Gvir.

Asked by Channel 12 news about such a potential scenario, Abbas answers: “Ra’am’s approach is to not rule out anyone who doesn’t rule us out. If a ruling party makes contact, Ra’am will hold the process appropriately and respectfully, our partners would be a ruling party and a candidate for prime minister, not their satellite candidate.”

He says he hasn’t yet been contacted by Netanyahu.

Source: The Times of Israel