Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has lost his coalition’s parliamentary majority following legislative elections on October 27. But a bloc of Jewish parties opposing Netanyahu also failed to win a majority in the 120-seat Knesset, leaving Israel without a clear path to a new government. What’s ahead is likely weeks of political wrangling as Israel’s disparate factions weigh possible governing arrangements, including a unity government bringing rival factions together or a minority government reliant on outside support.
If they fail to reach an agreement, Israel could head back to the polls. The pro-Netanyahu coalition won 53 seats: A bloc of Jewish parties opposing Netanyahu won 48 seats: That leaves all existing blocs short of the 61 seats needed for a majority in the Knesset, meaning some parties would have to realign or join forces across bloc lines to form a new government. Israel’s election results must be officially certified and presented to President Isaac Herzog by November 4.
The new Knesset is scheduled to be sworn in on November 10. Herzog must task one incoming Knesset member with forming a new government by November 11. He is expected to make his decision with input from party leaders, selecting the candidate he believes has the best chance of building a coalition.
The candidate commissioned by Herzog has 28 days to form a coalition, with a possible extension of 14 days. He has not said yet, but the most likely candidates are Netanyahu or former Israeli military chief Gadi Eisenkot, whose Yashar party received the most votes in the opposition bloc. According to Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth media, Eisenkot may have an edge over Netanyahu as some Arab-led parties consider endorsing him in a bid to oust Netanyahu.
Herzog, for his part, has urged Israeli politicians to move away from rigid partisan stances and look for “creative solutions” that will lead to a new government and avoid a second round of elections. Before the election, Herzog said he would do everything he could to spare the country another election cycle, even if that means pressing for a national unity government that brings together rivals Netanyahu and Eisenkot. Eisenkot and other opposition leaders have previously ruled out partnering with the Arab-led parties.
Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, however, has said he believes they “can change their mind”, arguing that Netanyahu would do in their position. Abbas himself has signalled a willingness to work the opposition camp, saying Eisenkot’s conditions would not pose an obstacle for his party, according to Israel’s Channel 12. Yousef Jabareen from the Arab-led Joint List has also said that his party is ready for the “ousting of the Netanyahu government”.
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