Israeli-Arab political party Balad to hold primaries ahead of April elections
Balad—one of three remaining parties of the Arab-majority Joint List coalition (JLC) in the Israeli Knesset—will hold primaries today ahead of April 9 parliamentary elections.
Selected candidates will vie for the party list spots in the JLC list. The higher-placed list spots increase Balad’s chances of entering parliament should JLC clear the 3.75% vote threshold.
Recent polling shows that the withdrawal of Ta’al, the coalition’s fourth party, could reduce the JLC’s vote share post-election. However, this is not expected to affect overall Arab representation as JLC votes are likely to go to Ta’al or the centrist New Horizon party.
Regardless, the Arab-majority parties are not expected to challenge the two main parties, Likud and Labor, for government, nor are they likely to be invited into a governing coalition given prevailing mainstream sentiment against such a government.
Despite his parliamentary retirement, Balad leader Jamal Zahalka remains party chair and will continue pushing a pro-Palestinian agenda that is with odds with the current right-wing ruling Likud. Latest polling favours Likud remaining in power with a right-wing coalition, so expect this status quo to continue in April.
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