Hung Knesset Tests Israel’s Multi‑Ethnic Democracy

Israel’s likely hung parliament — with Arab parties positioned as kingmakers — forces a concrete test of whether mainstream Zionist blocs will form government coalitions that include Arab parties or instead opt for repeat elections and caretaker rule. That choice will set a precedent about whether Israel treats Arab parties as legitimate coalition partners or as pariahs, with consequences for democratic norms and minority political inclusion. — How Israel’s parties handle a hung Knesset will determine whether multi‑ethnic coalition governance is normalized or whether ethnonational exclusions are reinforced — a precedent with domestic stability and regional legitimacy consequences.