Israeli Election Deadlock as Arab Parties Surge

The Israeli election resulted in an inconclusive outcome with Palestinian-led parties winning a record 19 seats. Nearly 840,000 people voted for the Ra'am and Joint List parties, a 64 percent increase on the 2022 election. Palestinian politicians have expressed a willingness to back a government led by Gadi Eisenkot from outside the coalition to enable Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's departure.

Netanyahu rejects result

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party alleged the election had been 'stolen' by Palestinian parties, making unproven claims of Qatari financing. Qatar has denied the accusations. Election committee chairman Noam Sohlberg declared the process was 'conducted properly'.

Coalition arithmetic and conditions

The path to a government remains unclear. Adding the Arab-led parties to Gadi Eisenkot's bloc would give an anti-Netanyahu coalition 67 seats in the 120-seat Knesset. However, right-wing leader Avigdor Lieberman has ruled out Palestinian partners for his coalition. Eisenkot himself presented four conditions for coalition inclusion, including recognition of Israel as 'a Jewish, democratic, liberal, and egalitarian state' and mandatory national service for all citizens.

Thousands of people rallied in Tel Aviv calling for a coalition that includes parties representing Palestinian citizens of Israel.

Hebron under military pressure

Israeli military operations continued in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron. By October 29, Israeli forces had sealed 10 entrances to the city and displaced about 5,000 people. The city saw at least 120 arrests and 13 businesses demolished by that Friday. The army also blew up the homes of two men blamed for an attack.

After a Palestinian attack on a military checkpoint, Netanyahu ordered the expulsion of 2,500 people from their homes in Hebron, with house destructions following. Residents of the Tel Rumeida area must pass through a military checkpoint to enter and exit. One resident, Yousef Shanaran, described the situation: "No water, no food, nothing at all I've got. Nobody is allowed to bring anything to us." Governor Khaled Dudin later announced "the army had withdrawn from Hebron, and that displaced families could return." In a separate incident, a woman named Azzeh reported that her husband died after settlers threw a tear gas canister into their home.

Gaza toll rises as conflict persists

In Gaza, attacks continued on a daily basis. The UN human rights office warned that Palestinians are being pushed into an ever smaller area, described as a moving 'kill zone'. By November 2, the Gaza Ministry of Health put the death toll since last year's ceasefire at 1,593.

Sunday was the deadliest day of the recent period, with at least eight killed. Specific incidents from late October and early November illustrate the ongoing violence.

The political deadlock in Jerusalem shows no immediate sign of resolution, while the humanitarian toll in Gaza and the West Bank continues to mount.