Netanyahu faces coalition showdown as rivals maneuver to form Israel's next government

President Isaac Herzog is consulting with party leaders to decide who will form Israel’s next government, a process that could test Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hold on power. Netanyahu’s bloc secured 53 seats, falling short of the 61 needed, while the opposition alliance led by Gadi Eisenkot also faces challenges. The final decision rests with Herzog, who will task a lawmaker with the mandate to form a coalition.

• President Isaac Herzog is consulting with elected party leaders to decide who will be tasked with forming the next Israeli government.
• Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc secured 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset, while the opposition alliance led by Gadi Eisenkot secured 48 seats; 61 seats are needed to form a government.
• Netanyahu has stated his aspiration to form a broad government, excluding parties he believes support terrorism or reject the existence of the Jewish state.
• The Joint List and Ra’am, two predominantly Arab parties that secured a combined 19 seats, are seen as potential kingmakers.
• A Joint List source indicated a likelihood of endorsing Eisenkot to be the first tasked with forming a government.
• The lawmaker tasked with forming a government has 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension.
• Commentators suggest Herzog will likely task the candidate backed by a majority of Knesset seats, potentially Eisenkot.
• Eisenkot may struggle to form a coalition due to competing interests within the opposition, particularly regarding reliance on Arab parties.
• Experts suggest that if Eisenkot fails, the mandate could pass to Netanyahu, who may also face difficulties, potentially leading to a 21-day period where any Knesset member can attempt to form a government.
• A national unity government is considered a possibility, drawing parallels to a 1984-1988 arrangement, but would require concessions like freezing judicial overhaul plans and agreeing on mechanisms for Netanyahu’s potential departure.
• The 26th Knesset is scheduled to be sworn in on November 10th, adding a timeline for government formation.