Knesset Vote Count Reaches 91% as Artists Urge Broad Coalition Partnership
As Knesset vote counting reaches 91%, cultural figures urge the change bloc to form a partnership with Arab parties. Meanwhile, Likud leads with 26 mandates and Yashar holds 21.
The counting of double-envelope ballots for the 26th Knesset elections began overnight at a designated facility in the Knesset parking lot in Jerusalem. Following the count of approximately 91% of the votes, the political map shows shifts, with the Ra'am party rising to 8 mandates while the Joint List dropped to 11 mandates. The Likud remains the largest party with 26 mandates, and Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party holds 21 mandates, while the right-wing bloc stands at 53 mandates and the change bloc at 48.
In light of the election results, hundreds of writers, poets, and artists from across the cultural spectrum issued an open appeal to party leaders in the change bloc. They urged the formation of a broad partnership with Arab parties to establish an alternative government. The signatories called on all factions of the change bloc to bridge political divides and overcome prejudices, warning against the continuation of the current political crisis.
"We call on the entire change bloc, across its Jewish and Arab factions, to unite into a single bloc and take a courageous, groundbreaking, and historic step," the artists wrote in their statement. They emphasized that political cooperation must be driven by shared goals rather than division during this critical period for the state's democratic institutions.
The appeal highlights the integral role of Arab citizens within Israeli society, noting their contributions to healthcare, public transport, and the economy. Prominent cultural figures signed the letter, including singer Achinoam Nini, actress Shira Naor, authors Orly Castel-Bloom, Tsruya Shalev, and Dorit Rabinyan, as well as playwrights Yehoshua Sobol and Moti Lerner.
