# Netanyahu's Coalition Crisis

> Netanyahu faces coalition showdown as rivals maneuver to form Israel's next government.
- Title: Netanyahu's Coalition Crisis · Fox News | Shortify
- Summary: Netanyahu faces coalition showdown as rivals maneuver to form Israel's next government. Netanyahu's bloc holds 53 seats but lacks majority; Eisenkot may form…
- Keywords: netanyahu, israeli government, knesset, eisenkot, coalition, gadi einstein, raam, joint list, israeli president, israeli elections, 26th knesset, 61 seats
- Source: Fox News — https://foxnews.com/world/netanyahu-faces-coalition-showdown-rivals-maneuver-form-israels-next-government
- Author: Amelie Botbol
- Published: 2026-11-03T00:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: netanyahu, israeli government, knesset, eisenkot, coalition, gadi einstein, raam, joint list, israeli president, israeli elections, 26th knesset, 61 seats
## Netanyahu's Seat Count
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc holds 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset, compared with 48 for the opposition alliance led by Gadi Eisenkot.
## Netanyahu's Criticism
Netanyahu posted on X that the public in Israel does not want a government that depends on Ra'am and the Joint List, parties that support terrorism and reject the existence of the Jewish state.
## Opposition Parties
The Joint List and Ra'am secured a historic combined total of 19 seats, potentially positioning them as kingmakers in the government formation process.
## Government Formation Timeline
The lawmaker tasked with forming a government will have 28 days to do so, with the president authorized to grant an extension of up to 14 additional days.
## Consultations Order
Consultations will be held in ascending order of seat count, beginning with Religious Zionism-Zehut and Shas, which each won six seats, followed by Yisrael Beiteinu, which secured seven.
## Eisenkot's Role
A Joint List source told Fox News Digital that the alliance is likely to endorse Eisenkot to be the first lawmaker tasked with forming a government.
## Coalition Challenges
BeYachad leader Naftali Bennett and Yisrael Beiteinu chief Avigdor Liberman are unlikely to agree to serve in a government reliant on the Joint List, given the latter’s pro-Palestinian positions and opposition to Zionism.
## Minority Government Possibility
It is theoretically possible that the opposition bloc could agree to form a minority government with the Arab parties providing support from outside the coalition.
## Historical Precedent
Israel’s 1984-1988 national unity government saw Likud and Labor form a rotation agreement with Shimon Peres serving as prime minister for the first two years, followed by Yitzhak Shamir.
## Eisenkot's Likely Failure
Eisenkot may struggle to assemble a 61-seat governing coalition, given competing interests within the opposition bloc.
## Netanyahu's Next Move
If Eisenkot fails, Netanyahu will likely be tasked with forming a government after a 21-day period where any Knesset member could attempt to form a government with 61 lawmakers.
## Key takeaway

Netanyahu's bloc holds 53 seats but lacks majority; Eisenkot may form government with 61 seats needed.