Arab parties: We'll topple Netanyahu after election result

Hadash and Maki issued a statement Monday morning congratulating what they called the historic achievement of the Arab public in the election, saying Arab voters turned out in large numbers despite incitement and attempts to intimidate them, and succeeded in preventing the Netanyahu bloc from reaching a 61-seat majority.

The parties congratulated the Joint List on winning the trust of nearly half a million voters and securing 11 seats, and thanked activists, volunteers and what they called democratic Jewish forces that stood alongside them. The achievement, they said, now requires turning the political strength shown by the Arab public into organized, stable and influential power.

In their statement, the parties warned against a campaign of incitement targeting the entire Arab public and against attempts to undermine the legitimacy of the election results. Netanyahu and the extreme right, they said, are preparing the ground for escalating incitement and challenging the election outcome, especially if an alternative government is formed that relies on the support of Arab MKs.

They stressed the need to expand cooperation with democratic Jewish forces, while insisting on full recognition of the Arab public's right to equal representation and political influence.

"Bringing down the government — a historic mission"

Hadash and Maki emphasized that bringing down the government of Netanyahu, Ben-Gvir and Smotrich is a historic and urgent mission, in light of what they called the policy of destruction and killing in Gaza, the deepening of the occupation, settler terror, harm to the rights of the Arab public, and the danger of continued fascist deterioration.

At the same time, the parties made clear they harbor no illusions about the political alternative, and that replacing the government will not necessarily bring an end to the occupation or a fundamental change in Israeli policy.

They repeated the Joint List's position that any support for an alternative government must be conditional on guaranteeing a safety net for the Arab public and weaker sectors, while maintaining their political independence and without joining the government.

Hadash and Maki pledged to make every effort to prevent repeat elections, as long as it depends on them, and to work toward translating the election results into removing the current government from power.

They concluded by emphasizing their commitment to preserving the Joint List and expanding Jewish-Arab partnership in the struggle against fascism, for equality, an end to the occupation, and a just peace.