Arab coalition to have say in Israeli polls

An Iranian expert in regional affairs says the Arab coalition would play determining role in the upcoming Israeli elections, adding that the ruling Likud party has a little chance to win the poll.

Hassan Hanizadeh was speaking to the Qods News Agency in Tehran.

The expert pointed to the latest polls in Israel that show the ruling Likud party would only gain 22 seats in the parliament while its rivals Labor party would gain 25 seats.

Hanizadeh said both party will have to make coalition in the parliament in case they win the elections.

The expert believed Netanyahu has lost favor with the US and EU authorities and that he had suffered back-to-back failures in political and military arenas, all contributing to his weakening stance in the elections.

The expert then touched on the determining role of the Palestinians who go with Israeli identity, saying the ‘Arabs’ have produced a joint list for a first time in the past recent years, helping them to have a say in the next Israeli parliament.

Asked about the Palestinian developments in the current Iranian year that ends on March 21, Hanizadeh said the year witnessed a surge in the anti-Israeli struggle and further substantiated the idea that the Palestinians must stand on their own feet in order to advance the Palestinian cause.