Israeli opposition unites behind Eisenkot as Netanyahu says voters chose him for PM

A coalition government is formed when several political parties agree to govern together. It matters because Israel’s parliament has 120 seats, and a governing majority requires 61. Neither main political camp reached that threshold in the election.

Gadi Eisenkot’s change bloc won 48 seats, while Benjamin Netanyahu’s camp won 53. Both therefore need support from additional parties. The 19 seats held by Arab-majority lists could provide crucial backing, but Netanyahu rejects a coalition with them, and opposition leaders disagree about working with them.

President Isaac Herzog will consult party representatives before choosing a candidate to try forming a government. That candidate has 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension, to build a coalition. If negotiations fail, another candidate may receive a chance, and continued failure could trigger new elections.

The election produced a divided Knesset rather than a clear governing winner. Gadi Eisenkot’s change bloc secured 48 seats. Benjamin Netanyahu’s camp secured 53, including 27 for his Likud party. These figures show that Netanyahu’s alliance was larger, but it still lacked the numbers to govern by itself.

A majority in the 120-member Knesset requires at least 61 seats. Eisenkot’s bloc was 13 seats short, while Netanyahu’s camp was eight seats short. The gap means both sides must seek backing from parties outside their main alliances.

Arab-majority lists won 19 seats, making them potential kingmakers. However, Netanyahu called for a government without them, while opposition figures disagreed over whether to cooperate. President Isaac Herzog will consider party recommendations before assigning the first government-forming attempt.

The Arab-majority parties became potential kingmakers because the election left both main camps short of a majority. Their 19 seats could provide the votes needed to reach 61, or help one candidate secure the recommendations required for the first government-forming mandate.

For example, Netanyahu’s camp has 53 seats and needs eight more for a majority. Eisenkot’s bloc has 48 and needs 13 more. The Arab lists have more than enough seats to cover either shortfall, although supporting a candidate does not necessarily mean joining the governing coalition.

Their influence remains politically difficult. Netanyahu ruled out including them and accused them of supporting terrorism and denying Israel’s Jewish character. Inside Eisenkot’s camp, Yair Golan supports cooperation, while Avigdor Lieberman opposes it. The Arab parties have hinted they may endorse Eisenkot.

Israel’s president does not simply choose the leader of the largest party. The established practice is to consult representatives from all parties and consider how many lawmakers recommend each candidate. The president also takes account of the parties’ relative parliamentary weight.

In this election, Netanyahu’s far-right allies and Shas are expected to recommend him, while the other ultra-Orthodox party’s position is unclear. All parties in Eisenkot’s bloc have said they will back him. Arab-majority lists have hinted that they may also endorse Eisenkot, potentially affecting the president’s decision.

Isaac Herzog begins consultations on Wednesday. He has seven days, until November 11, to choose the first candidate. That politician then has 28 days, extendable by 14 days, to assemble a coalition. The process focuses on coalition-building prospects, not only seat totals.

The first candidate receives 28 days to assemble a governing coalition. The president may extend that period by another 14 days. This gives the candidate time to negotiate with parties whose seats could create a parliamentary majority.

If the first attempt fails, the president may choose another candidate. That second candidate also gets 28 days to build a government. The article does not say that this person must lead the largest party; the key issue is whether a workable coalition can be formed.

If the second attempt also fails, 61 lawmakers can ask the president to select a third candidate. If a government is not achieved within 14 days, parliament is dissolved and new elections are held. The unresolved election therefore could lead either to a coalition or another national vote.

Winning the most seats does not automatically create a governing majority in Israel. The prime minister must command enough support in the 120-seat Knesset to pass legislation and sustain a government. That normally means assembling parties into a coalition of at least 61 lawmakers.

Netanyahu argued that Likud was the largest party and that the Jewish public chose him to lead. Yet Likud held 27 seats, and his broader camp held 53. It therefore remained eight seats short of a majority. Eisenkot’s bloc faced an even larger gap, with 48 seats.

The president also considers recommendations and the relative weight of parties when choosing who gets the first chance. Other parties can therefore determine whether the largest party’s leader can govern. Arab-majority lists, with 19 seats, became especially important because either main bloc needed outside support.

The article explains the mechanism but does not give examples from earlier elections. In general, Israel has repeatedly faced inconclusive elections when no bloc could secure 61 Knesset seats. The result is bargaining among parties, changing partnerships, and sometimes another vote rather than a stable government.

For example, Israel held repeated elections in 2019 and 2020 after parties failed to produce a durable coalition. Alliances shifted as parties tried to support different prime-ministerial candidates. These examples are established background beyond the supplied article, not details stated in it.

The same risk appears in this election. Eisenkot’s bloc has 48 seats and Netanyahu’s camp has 53, so both need partners. If the first two candidates fail, 61 lawmakers can request a third attempt. If that also fails within 14 days, parliament is dissolved and new elections are held.