Israeli election deadlock exposes Netanyahu’s crumbling grip as coalitions remain in play
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Early exit polls show that neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud bloc nor opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party won a clear majority, leaving coalition bargaining wide open and highlighting a polarized political landscape.
Exit polls on Tuesday night showed that neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud bloc nor the opposition coalition led by Gadi Eisenkot secured a majority in Israel's 120-seat Knesset. With about 70% of ballots counted, Likud held roughly 20.6% of the vote while Eisenkot's Yashar party recorded about 15.9%, underscoring a fractured electorate and the absence of a decisive mandate.
Yair Golan, head of the main left-wing party, called on opposition allies to work with Arab parties to form a government, saying, "We must no longer accept Netanyahu's division between Jewish votes and Arab votes. We have a responsibility and an opportunity to form a government of change in partnership with Israel's Arab citizens." His remarks reflected a push to build a coalition that breaks with the entrenched politics of exclusion.
Netanyahu rejected any partnership with Arab parties, urging his supporters to create a "right-wing, nationalist government" and stating, "We must not endanger Israel by establishing a government that relies on anti-Zionist Arab parties." Critics say this stance once again treats Arab citizens and their representatives as political outsiders rather than equal participants in the country's democratic life.
Arab parties won more seats than in any previous election, reflecting a historic turnout among the minority community, which makes up about 20% of the population.
Analysts note several possible outcomes: parties may break pre-election pledges and join new coalitions, a minority government could be formed if the change bloc secures a plurality, or a unity government without Arab or ultra-Orthodox parties might emerge. If negotiations fail, Israel could be forced to hold another election, a scenario that has occurred multiple times since 2019, revealing a system trapped in repeated deadlock.
The election is the first since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, which Israeli authorities described as the country's most serious security failure since its founding. Voter turnout was high as the nation continues to confront ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and tensions with Iran.
President Trump recently endorsed Netanyahu, writing on Truth Social that a change in Israeli leadership could compel the United States to assume greater responsibility in the region.