Israel Faces Political Deadlock After No Bloc Wins Majority
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and rival Gadi Eisenkot both failed to secure a parliamentary majority, leaving Arab-led parties as potential kingmakers in a deadlocked Knesset.
Israel is facing a prolonged political stalemate following the October 27 general election, in which no single bloc secured the 61 seats required for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party remain the largest single entity, with his right-wing bloc holding 53 seats. His primary challenger, Gadi Eisenkot of the Yashar party, commands 48 seats, while Arab-led parties captured a historic 15% of the vote to secure 19 seats.
Netanyahu has claimed the election was "stolen" by Arab parties and called for a Shin Bet investigation into alleged foreign interference. He warned that any coalition involving Arab parties would be a "dangerous government." Conversely, Eisenkot characterized the results as a vote of no confidence in the current administration. While Eisenkot initially ruled out a coalition with Arab parties, he later expressed openness to such a partnership provided they recognize Israel as a Jewish state and Hamas as an extremist group.
Arab-led parties, including the Joint List and Ra’am, have signaled readiness to cooperate to oust Netanyahu. However, Joint List leader Yousef Jabareen noted that Eisenkot's support for military campaigns in Gaza and southern Lebanon remains a barrier. President Isaac Herzog has urged leaders to avoid another round of elections, which could occur early next year if a coalition is not formed within 100 days. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed a desire for Netanyahu to remain in power to maintain joint operations against Iran.
