Israeli Opposition Leaders Meet as Netanyahu Lacks Parliamentary Majority
Naftali Bennett and Gadi Eisenkot met to discuss government formation after Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc failed to secure a majority in the Knesset elections.
Israeli parliamentary elections have resulted in a hung Knesset, leaving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu without the 61 seats required for a majority. The Central Elections Committee's final count confirmed that Netanyahu's bloc won 53 seats, while opposition parties secured 48 and Arab-led parties achieved a historic 19 seats in the 120-member parliament.
Naftali Bennett and Gadi Eisenkot met in Ra’anana on Thursday to discuss establishing a new government. In a joint statement, the two leaders noted they discussed "ways to establish a good government in Israel as quickly as possible," though they did not confirm a formal coalition agreement.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu and the Likud party have alleged that Arab-led parties stole the election, potentially with foreign assistance. Opposition leaders have characterized these claims as the demonization of the Arab population. Centrist politician Yair Lapid urged patience during the negotiations, stating that "the truly hard part" now begins.
President Isaac Herzog will task a leader with forming the government after results are certified next Wednesday. If coalition negotiations fail to produce a majority, Israel faces new elections early next year.
