Israel's 26th Knesset Opens as Coalition Maneuvering Puts Netanyahu on the Sidelines
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The newly elected Knesset met for its first session two weeks after the October 27 vote, while coalition bargaining continues and Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud, despite winning the most seats, is not leading the government-formation effort.
Israel's newly elected parliament, the 26th Knesset, met for its constituent session on Tuesday, roughly two weeks after the October 27 election and before a new government is established. Members were sworn in during the ceremony, marking the start of a new round of political bargaining.
Although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party secured the largest share of seats, winning 27 of the 120, President Isaac Herzog assigned former chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot the task of forming a coalition. Eisenkot's centrist Yashar party placed second with 21 seats and received the most recommendations in the president's consultations with parties, underscoring the effort to find an alternative to Netanyahu's bloc.
Eisenkot has an initial 28-day period to assemble a stable coalition, with the possibility of a 14-day extension by the president. If he fails, Herzog may appoint another candidate, who would also receive 28 days. Netanyahu is identified as the fallback option should Eisenkot be unable to form a government, leaving the door open to yet another attempt by a figure long central to Israel's political deadlock.