Arab parties extend a hand to try to topple Netanyahu but challenges remain
Arab parties say their 19-seat surge gives them leverage to back Eisenkot and pressure Netanyahu’s bloc as coalition talks stall.
- Following the October 27, 2026, general election, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc secured 53 seats while opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot's bloc won 48, leaving both far short of the 61-seat majority required to form a government.
- Arab-Led parties won a record 19 seats after turnout surged to about 80%, positioning them as kingmakers. This surge reflects widespread opposition to nationalist ministers including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
- Joint List leader Yousef Jabareen stated his party is ready to back an alternative government, saying, "We are ready for political cooperation." Opposition leaders, however, set conditions including denouncing Hamas as a terrorist organization.
- President Isaac Herzog began consultations Thursday to determine which candidate receives the first mandate to form a government. United Torah Judaism, a traditional Netanyahu ally, declined to recommend any candidate, weakening the prime minister's position.
- Without a 61-seat majority, the country faces potential new elections if no governing coalition emerges within the 28-day mandate period. Herzog must navigate deep political divisions to select a candidate capable of breaking the parliamentary impasse.
209 Articles
209 Articles
An ultra-Orthodox party, allied for three decades with Benjamin Netanyahu, refused Thursday to give support to the incumbent Prime Minister, who aspires to form the future government of Israel, a rejection that strengthens his main rival, Gadi Eisenkot, reports AFP.
In fact, the rival of Benyamin Netanyahu won the support of the Israeli Arab-majority list Raam. Conversely, the outgoing Prime Minister lost the support of an ultra-Orthodox formation. - Gadi Eisenkot in a position of strength to be charged with forming the next Israeli government (International).
The political alliance between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties is experiencing a major rift, as the latter have refused to back him in consultations on forming a new government. The ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party, which has seven deputies in the Israeli parliament, has not recommended There was no candidate for prime minister during the talks with President Isaac Herzog. This stance is…
After the parliamentary election in Israel, neither Prime Minister Netanyahu nor the opposition have a majority. The head of an Arab party now offers a solution.
Eisenkot favoured as Netanyahu ally withholds endorsement
Gadi Eisenkot has emerged as the favourite to form an Israeli government after a religious party, United Torah Judaism, declined to recommend Benjamin Neta Read More: https://punchng.com/eisenkot-favoured-as-netanyahu-ally-withholds-endorsement/
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