Arab parties hold the key as Israel struggles to form a government - Los Angeles Times
Gadi Eisenkot, who leads the center-right Yashar party, appears to have the advantage in forming a coalition government in Israel that would oust long-serving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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Read the original articleLos Angeles Times · latimes.comRead Just the Facts7 outlets, left to rightOur verdict
Political lean
0 = center. The further from 0, the stronger the lean (max 10).
Reporting balance
How complete and even-handed the reporting is — separate from which side it leans.
This is a largely balanced news report that leans slightly against Netanyahu by giving more direct space to Eisenkot and Arab-led parties and using some critical authorial language. Its strength is specific seat math and clear explanation of Arab demands and coalition obstacles, including views that cut against easy formation. Readers should seek a direct Likud and ultra-Orthodox response and independent detail on the US aid move before judging who can govern.
- Why this lean
- Foreign-policy story with mostly balanced sourcing but space and adjectives favor the anti-Netanyahu bloc: extended sympathetic quotes from Jabareen and Buttu on dignity, equality and leverage, plus authorial criticism of Netanyahu for pressing attacks with little regard to international opprobrium, while no direct Netanyahu or Likud quote is included to defend his position.
- Framing
- The story is told mainly from the perspective of Eisenkot and Arab-led parties trying to replace Netanyahu, treating the central question as whether a fragile Jewish-Arab anti-Netanyahu majority can hold together.
Key Findings
- 1Coverage favors the anti-Netanyahu bloc in space: Jabareen, Buttu and Eisenkot receive extended direct quotes while Netanyahu/Likud receives no direct quote, only background that Likud got the most seats of any individual party.
- 2Headline is supported by the body math: 48 Eisenkot bloc seats plus 19 Arab-led party seats equals 67, versus 46 for Netanyahu, making Arab support decisive.
- 3Story does well to include inconvenient facts for its kingmaker angle: at least three parties in Eisenkot's four-party bloc oppose governing with Arab parties, and Arab parties reject Eisenkot's Hamas terrorist designation condition.
- 4Authorial language criticizes Netanyahu beyond attribution, for example that he pressed attacks in the West Bank, Lebanon and Syria with little regard to international opprobrium and faces an international arrest warrant and corruption investigation.
- 5Context on Arab parties is specific and checkable: Joint List rejects Zionist parties and calls for a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza with East Jerusalem as its capital, while Raam takes a more practical view.
Who gets a voice
- Yousef JabareenHead of the Joint ListAnti-Netanyahu, pro Arab equality and end to occupationMain voice
- Dahlia ScheindlinIsraeli political analyst and pollsterAnalytical explainer of coalition obstaclesMain voice
- Gadi EisenkotLeader of Yashar party, Netanyahu challengerPro national emergency government under his leadershipMain voice
- Diana ButtuLawyer and former legal advisor to the Palestine Liberation OrganizationPro Arab leverage from outside governmentMain voice
- Isaac HerzogPresident of IsraelNeutral arbiter reporting consultation resultsMinor voice
- Avigdor LiebermanHead of Yisrael Beiteinu partyOpposed to government with Arab partiesMinor voice
- Head of RaamLeader of Islamist Raam partyPragmatic willingness to join anti-Netanyahu administrationMinor voice
- President TrumpUS PresidentCutting Israel aid ahead of scheduleMinor voice
Loaded language
Authorial judgment implies reckless disregard by Netanyahu.
Emotive phrase suggests unrestrained brutality.
Label implies treason by Palestinian citizens of Israel.
Catastrophe metaphor from Eisenkot exaggerates urgency.
Accusatory term quoted from Jabareen about government speech.
Military sabotage metaphor in Eisenkot warning to opponents.
Dimension Breakdown
Multiple independent voices are included (Herzog, Eisenkot, Jabareen, Buttu, Scheindlin), but Netanyahu/Likud has no direct quote and Lieberman and Raam head appear only via Scheindlin paraphrase.
Mostly plain attributed language, but authorial phrases like with little regard to international opprobrium and no-holds-barred assault on Gaza carry critical judgment of Israel's Gaza campaign.
Seat numbers are sourced to Herzog consultations (48 plus 19 for 67 versus 46) with party breakdowns (11 and 8 seats), and inconvenient data for the angle is included that Likud got the most seats of any individual party.
Arab-led parties, Eisenkot, and analysts explaining both opportunity and obstacles are heard, but the pro-Netanyahu case is missing a direct advocate and UTJ's refusal is noted without its reasoning.
Headline that Arab parties hold key as Israel struggles to form government matches body math showing 19 Arab-backed seats create the 67-seat Eisenkot advantage amid mutual vetoes.
Provides electoral system, president role, Joint List and Raam positions on Zionism and Hamas, 2021 Raam precedent, US aid and ICC and corruption context needed to judge stakes.
Missing Perspectives
- No direct Netanyahu or Likud spokesperson to explain why 46 seats should lead, why Likud won the most individual seats, or to respond to toxicity and aid-cut claims.
- No direct United Torah Judaism voice to explain its refusal to back either candidate and its military-exemption priority, which matters because its alignment could change the math.
- No US official or independent aid expert to assess the claimed collapse in support for Israel and the impact of cutting $4 billion in aid.
Highlighted Passages
“On the line is not only U.S. military assistance, but also the diplomatic shield Netanyahu has relied on to press his attacks in the West Bank, Lebanon and Syria with little regard to international opprobrium.”
“We will do everything to remove the greatest threat to all of us, which is the continuation of the rule of Netanyahu.”
“many of whom view Palestinian citizens of Israel as fifth columnists and a threat to national security.”
“Whoever tries to obstruct and torpedo the formation of the government for personal and non-substantive reasons will be remembered in history as one who did not rise to the magnitude of the moment and did not act to save Israel in its time of emergency”
Key Facts
- According to Herzog after consultations, Eisenkot's opposition bloc gained 48 seats and picked up 19 more after Arab-led parties said they will support him, for a total of 67 in the 120-seat Knesset.
- According to Herzog, Netanyahu and his right-wing allies garnered 46 seats.
- According to the article, the Joint List alliance holds 11 seats and Raam holds eight seats.
- According to the article, in 2021 Raam joined an Israeli governing coalition, making it the first independent Arab party to do so.
- According to the article, United Torah Judaism has so far refused to support either candidate.
- According to the article, Eisenkot proposed four foundational principles including recognizing Israel as a Jewish and democratic state and recognizing Hamas as a terrorist organization.
- According to the article, President Trump announced he would cut roughly $4 billion in annual aid to Israel by the end of the year ahead of the agreement's expiration in 2028.
