Oct 28, 2026 · 59 min
Israel’s election exposes the limits of Palestinian political power
Democracy Now! 2026-10-28 Wednesday
The episode connects Israel’s inconclusive vote to Palestinian exclusion, U.S. political debate, regional war, and the uncertain prospects for international solidarity.
- 1Israel’s fragmented election leaves Netanyahu seeking a right-wing coalition while Palestinian-led parties remain excluded from governing power.
- 2Rashid Khalidi and Tariq Ali argue that public opposition to the Gaza war is widening in the United States despite continued elite support.
- 3The war involving the United States, Israel, and Iran deepens regional instability as repression and political uncertainty spread beyond the battlefield.
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Rashid Khalidi and Tariq Ali use Ghassan Kanafani’s assassination and an archival exchange about negotiations and armed struggle to connect historical resistance with present repression.
The brief
Israel’s election produces no governing majority: Likud leads, Palestinian-led parties perform strongly, and Benjamin Netanyahu seeks a right-wing coalition while opponents claim voters chose change.
Rashid Khalidi and Tariq Ali argue that Israeli parties’ refusal to govern with Palestinian parties reveals structural exclusion, while Gaza is reshaping U.S. public opinion and midterm politics.
The discussion widens to Britain’s crackdown on Palestine Action and to Ghassan Kanafani’s legacy, linking contemporary repression with a longer history of Palestinian resistance.
Khalidi and Ali assess the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran, warning that Iranian resilience, regional opposition, and threats around the Strait of Hormuz could destabilize the wider region.
The conversation closes on a contradiction: fascism is rising, youth-led movements are mobilizing, and Lula’s victory offers hope, but weakened parties may limit durable change.
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