JERUSALEM (VINNEWS) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that the Israeli public rejects any government reliant on the Arab-led parties Ra’am and the Joint List, which he described as supporting terrorism and denying the existence of the Jewish state.​

In a post on X, Netanyahu noted that a clear majority of the Jewish public had chosen his Likud party as the largest in parliament and selected him to lead the next government. He said he has extended an offer from the outset for a broad national government open to any party that does not support terrorism and that he remains available for discussion on that basis.

The remarks followed the Oct. 27 election, which left Netanyahu’s bloc with 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset. The main opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party secured 48 seats, while Ra’am and the Joint List combined for a record 19 seats, producing a hung parliament with no side able to form a majority on its own.​

Likud finished as the largest single party with 27 seats. Official figures from the Central Elections Committee showed turnout at approximately 77.9%, the highest since 1999. Neither major bloc has a clear path to the 61 seats needed to form a government without involving the Arab-led parties, which both Netanyahu’s camp and much of the opposition have ruled out partnering with formally.

President Isaac Herzog is expected to begin consultations with party leaders in the coming days before assigning the task of forming a government. Netanyahu has repeatedly stated that dependence on the Arab parties would be unacceptable. Opposition figures, including Eisenkot, have also voiced reservations about relying on their support, citing differences over core issues.