Israeli opposition parties grapple with coalition options amid deadlock

Two days after Israel's final election results were released, both political blocs remain deadlocked as calls for a national unity government grow. Forming such a government would require major concessions, including abandoning key campaign promises, according to senior Likud officials.

A Likud representative said the political concessions needed from each side make a unity government "extremely unlikely." For Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a unity arrangement would mean reversing a campaign pledge, breaking his alliance with traditional partners and possibly excluding Otzma Yehudit leader Itamar Ben-Gvir and some ultra-Orthodox parties.

Opposition parties face a similar dilemma. Their election platforms promised not to govern with Netanyahu or ultra-Orthodox parties, a stance linked to proposed legislation for broader military conscription. Joining a unity government would force a reassessment of those commitments.

Within the anti-Netanyahu bloc, leaders disagree on the path forward. Yair Golan of the Democratic Party advocates a government that relies on the Joint List's support or abstention, or includes Mansour Abbas' Ra'am party. In contrast, Avigdor Liberman of Yisrael Beiteinu has ruled out such arrangements and denied any desire to become Knesset speaker.

Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of Yashar! and leader of the bloc's largest party, is expected to receive the mandate to form a government after consultations with President Isaac Herzog. He told supporters he intends to deliver a "good government" reflecting voters' choice, but did not detail his coalition strategy. Eisenkot has previously indicated willingness to lead a minority government, though potential partners such as United Torah Judaism demand favorable conscription legislation for the ultra-Orthodox community.

Naftali Bennett of Beyachad shares Liberman's skepticism about relying on Arab party support, fearing such a coalition would be unstable and could enable Netanyahu's return to power. Yair Lapid, by contrast, appears more open to any arrangement that yields a stable, lasting government, and he and Eisenkot issued a joint statement emphasizing their commitment to the voters' will.

One scenario under consideration is a minority government backed or tolerated by United Torah Judaism, which would give Eisenkot's side 55 Knesset seats against Netanyahu's 53. Critics warn that the ultra-Orthodox parties might use negotiations to increase leverage with both blocs, raising doubts about the durability of such a partnership.

"The ultra-Orthodox option is risky because it is unclear whether we could maintain a long-term partnership with them," a source in the anti-Netanyahu bloc said.

"It would also force Liberman and Bennett to break a fundamental election promise. The political cost would therefore be high."

Lapid posted on Facebook urging patience, noting the election was a win on points and emphasizing the difficulty of forming a government. He said there is no simple formula for the process and highlighted the need to honor the electorate's clear preferences.