President Herzog faces a consequential decision as Israel remains without a functioning government following an election that produced no clear winner. Neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor former military chief Gadi Eisenkot secured sufficient parliamentary support to independently form a coalition, setting the stage for complex negotiations.
During formal consultations with party leaders that concluded recently, 67 of 120 Knesset members backed Eisenkot compared to 46 for Netanyahu. However, Eisenkot’s advantage relies heavily on support from Arab-led parties representing Palestinian citizens of Israel, which he has publicly committed to excluding from any government he leads. Netanyahu’s backing fell short of his own bloc’s 53 seats after United Torah Judaism, a traditional coalition partner, withheld endorsements in a dispute over military conscription exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Israelis.
Multiple pathways to government formation exist, though each presents obstacles. Eisenkot could potentially secure the 61-seat majority needed by winning over the two ultra-Orthodox parties, United Torah Judaism and Shas, though Shas has already endorsed Netanyahu. Alternatively, he could form a minority government and seek parliamentary confidence votes with outside support from Arab-led parties. Netanyahu would need to attract opposition lawmakers or pursue a rotating prime minister arrangement with Eisenkot, an option many rivals have rejected. Herzog acknowledged that despite numerical appearances, mutual vetoes between and within political blocs complicate predictions about coalition viability.
Arab-led parties, which won a record 19 seats, have signaled willingness to provide outside support to prevent Netanyahu’s return to office. However, they seek guarantees for Palestinian citizens, including action on house demolitions, incitement, and crime. The nominee selected by Herzog will have 28 days to form a government, renewable for two additional rounds before triggering new elections.
Political analysts suggest the drawn-out impasse may prove most likely, potentially benefiting Netanyahu if a repeat election weakens rivals or suppresses turnout among Palestinian voters.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI