Netanyahu Remains Caretaker PM as Israel Faces Governing Crisis
Benjamin Netanyahu remains caretaker prime minister after his coalition lost its majority, while opposition leaders refuse to partner with Arab parties to form a new government.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains the caretaker leader of Israel after his governing coalition dropped from 68 to a projected 53 seats in the October 27 elections. Although the Likud party remains the largest in the Knesset, the coalition failed to reach the 61 seats required to govern. An opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot won 48 seats, and Arab parties captured 19, creating a combined parliamentary majority that is currently stalled because opposition leaders refuse to cooperate with Arab parties.
President Isaac Herzog began consultations with political parties on November 4 to determine who will receive the mandate to form a government. Netanyahu received recommendations from the Religious Zionist, Shas, and Zehut parties. Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar! party, was endorsed by Yisrael Beytenu and Ra'am. The United Torah Judaism alliance refrained from recommending a candidate, though some members may still back Netanyahu.
The process has been marked by tension over the legitimacy of Arab political parties and investigations into suspected foreign interference. Noam Sohlberg, chairman of the Central Elections Committee, warned against efforts to undermine the validity of the results. President Herzog urged leaders to negotiate with open minds to avoid another election cycle, noting that Netanyahu may maintain authority for months if negotiations fail, during which time critical decisions regarding Iran, Gaza, and judicial independence must be made.
