Israeli Opposition Seeks Coalition After Netanyahu Fails Majority
Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot and Yair Golan seek to form a new government after Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition failed to secure a Knesset majority.
Recent Israeli elections left neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot with the 61 seats required to form a government. Pro-Netanyahu parties hold 53 of the 120 Knesset seats, while the opposition controls 67. However, the opposition is divided between Jewish-led parties with 48 seats and Arab-led parties with 19, with most Jewish factions refusing to partner with Arab groups.
Eisenkot declared the results a vote of no confidence in the Netanyahu administration and pledged to establish a Zionist government committed to military conscription. Meanwhile, Yair Golan, chairman of The Democrats, announced plans to meet with Eisenkot and B'Yachad deputy leader Yair Lapid to discuss government formation. Golan is the only leader in the Zionist opposition alliance to openly support integrating Arab parties into a coalition to manage security challenges and halt the current government's judicial overhaul.
President Isaac Herzog will determine which leader receives the first opportunity to attempt government formation. Because neither major bloc secured a majority, both must now negotiate with smaller factional parties. Arab parties may hold the balance of power, though it remains uncertain if a major bloc will ultimately welcome them into a coalition.
