The chances of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to form a new coalition government face more complications, due to the far-right's rejection of any possible parliamentary partnership with the United Arab List party, after elections that did not produce a conclusive result.
Partial results from Tuesday's elections showed that Netanyahu's conservative Likud party and his allies did not achieve a majority in the 120-seat Knesset, raising the possibility that Netanyahu would seek some sort of alliance with the united Arab list.
While political commentators are unlikely to include the Arab list in a government led by Netanyahu, some have speculated that the list might pledge instead not to support any vote of no confidence offered by the opposition.
The Arab List is expected to win 4 seats in the Knesset.
Commentators said that in return for such protection from an unusual ally, Netanyahu may agree to measures to improve the conditions of the Arab minority in Israel, which stands at 21%.
However, the ultra-nationalist religious Zionist party, which is run by settlers and is expected to win 6 seats, indicated that Netanyahu could not count on the party's support if it reached an agreement with the United Arab List.
Party leader Bezalel Smotrich said on Facebook, "There will be no list for a right-wing government that depends on the united Arab list, neither from within it nor from outside, nor by abstaining from voting or in any other way."
The Arab List indicated that it is ready to support a future government led by Netanyahu or his centrist rival, Yair Lapid, who is expected to get 57 seats with his political allies.
As for the current coalition led by Netanyahu, which includes the party of religious Zionism, according to the partial results so far, it will get 52 seats.
"Sometimes alliances include parties who do not really like each other," Walid Taha of the United Arab List told Israeli Army Radio.
He added that his party at the moment "is not talking about strengthening our personal roles," referring to ministerial positions.
When asked whether the list might provide from the opposition seats parliamentary support for a coalition led by Netanyahu that includes the party of religious Zionism, Taha said that it is the responsibility of the extreme right.
Tipping the balance for Netanyahu may also be in the hands of former Defense Minister Naftali Bennett, whose hard-line Right Party appears to have won 7 seats.
The party has not yet disclosed the bloc it supports.
The final results of the parliamentary elections, the fourth in two years amid great political polarization, are expected to be announced late Thursday evening or Friday.
The Al-Jazeera correspondent said that these results add to the complexity of the political scene, as Netanyahu's camp will refuse to rely on the votes of the United Arab List to gain the confidence of the Knesset, and the political discrepancy and ideological inconsistency between Netanyahu's opponents camp will make the formation of a government almost impossible, which will lead To enter Israel into a fifth cycle of elections within two years.