Policy, not ethnicity, explains why Israeli parties refuse coalitions with Arab parties
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Israel's mainstream parties say their reluctance to ally with Arab parties stems from sharp disagreements over social rights, security, and the nature of the state, while Arab citizens and politicians remain deeply integrated across public life.
Israel's mainstream parties insist that the central barrier to coalitions with Arab parties is policy, not ethnicity. The Arab parties themselves span a wide political range, from conservative and Islamist to nationalist, and they often clash with mainstream parties on issues such as gay rights, women's rights, and security. Some have also declined to call Hamas a terrorist organization even after the October 7 attacks.
At the same time, the broader picture shows that Arab citizens are not shut out of Israeli public life. Many vote for mainstream parties, and Arab and Druze politicians have reached senior positions across the political spectrum. Labour MP Raleb Majadele became the first Muslim Arab cabinet minister in 2007, while Druze politicians such as Salah Tarif and Majalli Wahabi have also held high-level posts. Arab members have served as deputy speaker of the Knesset, on the Supreme Court, and as heads of major institutions, including Bank Leumi.
Arab academics hold senior university posts, and Druze officers have commanded elite combat units. In sports, Arab players have captained the national football team. These examples point to the substantial integration of Arab citizens into many parts of Israeli public life.
Still, the reluctance to include Arab parties in governing coalitions reflects fundamental disagreements over the character of the Jewish state and security policy. When practical concerns such as housing, infrastructure, and economic development come first, cooperation can happen, as shown by Mansour Abbas's Ra'am party joining the coalition led by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid in 2021.