From Foreign Policy · David E. Rosenberg · · 1m 40s
Netanyahu's Election Edge in Deadlocked Israeli Vote
Netanyahu leads with no clear path to government after election results.
In brief
Netanyahu leads with no clear path to government after election results. Netanyahu has no easy path to forming a government but could lead a center-right coalition or caretaker government. Originally reported by Foreign Policy.
Election Results
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu didn't win but has the upper hand as all other parties lost seats.
Likud Party Status
Likud party has 26 seats in the 120-member Knesset, down 10 seats from current representation.
Far-Right Coalition Drop
Far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties dropped five seats to 27 as a group.
Netanyahu Bloc Seats
Netanyahu bloc holds 53 seats in the Knesset, short of the 61-seat majority needed for government.
Eisenkot's Yashar Party
Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party won only 21 Knesset seats, less than polls predicted.
Opposition Bloc Seats
Opposition bloc captured 48 seats, too small to form a coalition with Arab-led parties.
Arab-Led Parties
Arab-led Joint List and Ra'am parties gained seats but won't have much influence in government formation.
President Herzog's Preference
Israeli President Isaac Herzog prefers a center-right coalition over another election.
Trump's Potential Influence
U.S. President Donald Trump may want to keep Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich out of the next government.
Netanyahu's Historical Context
Netanyahu, 77, has led Israel for 30 years and could use a center-right government to expand the Abraham Accords.
Netanyahu's Political Risks
Netanyahu risks alienating his base and far-right partners if he forms a unity government.
Election Stalemate
A new election is likely as both major blocs remain divided over fundamental issues.
Next Steps
Netanyahu may lead a caretaker government for several months before another election.
The takeaway
Netanyahu has no easy path to forming a government but could lead a center-right coalition or caretaker government.
