Israel went to the polls on October 27. The results in the 120-member Knesset, the country's parliament, left no political alliance with the 61 seats required to form a government. Netanyahu's coalition secured 53 seats, while the opposition alliance led by Gadi Eisenkot won 48 seats. Arab parties collectively secured 19 seats, with the Joint List winning 11 and the Ra'am Party securing eight.
Although Netanyahu's alliance emerged as the largest bloc, it failed to reach the majority mark. Eisenkot also faces the challenge of gathering enough support to form a government. As a result, the backing of Arab parties has become critical for both political camps.
Netanyahu has now questioned the possibility of forming a government with the support of Arab parties. On November 4, he shared a video on social media platform X, claiming that Israel faces threats from Iran and its allies, while radical Islam poses a challenge from within the country.
In the video, Netanyahu accused the opposition of attempting to form a government with the support of parties that back Hamas. Instead, he called for a broad national government under the leadership of Likud. He also demanded an investigation into allegations of foreign interference in the elections.
Gadi Eisenkot's role in the post-election political developments has become increasingly important. According to a report by The Indian Express, understanding the current political arithmetic requires examining Eisenkot's position and his efforts to replace Netanyahu.
Eisenkot is a former chief of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). He served as the head of the Israeli military from 2015 to 2019. Following Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack, he also joined Netanyahu's war cabinet. However, disagreements over the government's war strategy and leadership eventually led him to leave the cabinet.
Eisenkot has now emerged as the opposition's face in its efforts to remove Netanyahu from power. Following the election, opposition parties also reached an understanding over his candidature. Five opposition leaders jointly decided to nominate him for the post of prime minister and present his name to the President.
However, the opposition alliance faces a major hurdle over whether to seek support from Arab parties. Some opposition leaders favour forming a government with their backing, while others strongly oppose the idea.
Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, has opposed an alliance with Arab parties. In contrast, Yair Golan of the Democrats Party has supported the possibility of cooperation with them. This has exposed differences within the opposition, which has united against Netanyahu but remains divided over the support required to form a government.
Netanyahu, meanwhile, still has a possible route to power. His coalition comprises Likud with 27 seats, United Torah Judaism with seven, Otzma Yehudit with seven, Shas with six and Religious Zionism with six. Together, these parties hold 53 seats.
Netanyahu therefore needs the support of eight additional members of parliament to reach the majority mark of 61. The support of Arab parties could prove decisive, although Netanyahu himself has repeatedly rejected the prospect of forming a government with their backing.
Meanwhile, Israeli President Isaac Herzog has accepted the election results and begun consultations with leaders of all political parties. Based on these discussions, he will decide which candidate should receive the first opportunity to form the government.
The candidate chosen by the President will have 28 days to put together a governing coalition. An additional 14 days may be granted if required. If no leader succeeds in securing a parliamentary majority, Israel could be forced to hold fresh elections.
Until a new government is formed, Benjamin Netanyahu will continue as caretaker prime minister. With neither major political bloc holding the required numbers, the support of Arab parties and the outcome of the presidential consultations will play a decisive role in determining Israel's next government.
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