Netanyahu faces coalition math after election leaves Israel split in two
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot must broaden their blocs after a divided Israeli election produced no majority, and the country may be pushed into another costly vote if responsible coalition-building fails.
Jerusalem – Israel’s latest election left Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s camp with 53 seats and Gadi Eisenkot’s bloc with 48, short of the 61 needed for a majority. President Isaac Herzog said a new vote must be avoided, prompting both leaders to seek partners for a coalition and restore workable government.
Netanyahu’s Likud party secured 27 seats, but he will need to approach opposition groups, including the left-wing Democrats (8 seats) and right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu (7 seats). Avigdor Lieberman of Yisrael Beiteinu said on Oct 29 that “the only conceivable coalition” excludes Netanyahu, though he indicated tolerance for other Likud members. The stance of Naftali Bennett’s Together party (12 seats) remains uncertain after mixed signals about conditions for cooperation.
Eisenkot, who ruled out any rotation of the prime ministership, can either form a minority government supported from outside or broaden his coalition by courting Arab-majority lists – Raam (8 seats) and the Joint List (11 seats). Raam leader Mansour Abbas expressed willingness to join a coalition, while Joint List member Yousef Jabareen said he would support Eisenkot in parliament without joining the cabinet.
Both sides also consider courting ultra-Orthodox parties that currently back Netanyahu (13 seats). Eisenkot has advocated ending military service exemptions for the ultra-Orthodox, a policy those parties oppose, but they might shift if concessions are offered.
If neither leader assembles a stable coalition, Israel could be forced to hold another election.