Thousands protest at Tel Aviv's Habima Square, demanding a Jewish-Arab coalition government

Thousands of people protested in Tel Aviv against Israeli Prime Minister and Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu. They demanded that the anti-Netanyahu Jewish and Arab political parties, which together won 67 seats in the parliamentary election, join together to form a coalition government.

On Saturday, about two thousand people gathered at Habima Square in Tel Aviv. They chanted slogans such as 'Jews and Arabs refuse to be enemies' and 'Against racism, for partnership'. Protesters carried various anti-Netanyahu banners and placards.

From Habima Square, the protesters marched to Rabin Square, where the protest ended. There they beat drums and held up placards reading 'There is a majority for change' and 'Equality for all'. They also chanted, 'Through partnership and equality we will change the government'.

A protest was also reported in Jerusalem on Saturday with the same demand. A group called Standing Together organised the protests across Israel. A protest with the same demand was also held on Thursday in the Israeli city of Herzliya.

The election in Israel was held on October 28. But no party or bloc won the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-seat parliament. Netanyahu's hard-right bloc won 53 seats, the opposition bloc of former army chief Gadi Eisenkot won 48, and the Arab parties Ra'am and the Joint List won 19 seats.

If Eisenkot's bloc joins hands with the Arab parties, it could remove Netanyahu and form a government. Meetings between anti-Netanyahu Jewish parties and Arab parties have also been reported. Democrats party leader Yair Golan has publicly taken a position in favour of working jointly with the Arab parties.

Anti-Netanyahu parties have also reached an understanding to remove Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana from his post on the first day of the new parliament, political analyst Barak Seri said. Reports say former prime minister Yair Lapid could be appointed to the post.

However, there are differences among the opposition over a coalition with the Arab parties. Among four anti-Netanyahu parties, three — Yashar, B'Yachad and Yisrael Beiteinu — are not interested in forming a coalition government with the Arab parties. So even though adding the Arab parties' 19 seats gives a possible majority of 67, uncertainty over government formation remains.

Meanwhile, about 200 Netanyahu supporters also protested at Habima Square on Saturday. They claimed the Arab parties had 'stolen' the election. They were seen chanting 'Jewish state' and 'Send the terrorists to Gaza, not into the government'.

At the counter-protest, Ra'am and the Joint List were accused of supporting terrorism. Outgoing parliament national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir attended and said, 'We will not let anyone steal the election.' A banner beside him read, 'Arabs will not be given the right to determine the character of the Jewish state.'