Netanyahu's Bloc Falls Short of Majority in Israeli Election, Leaving Coalition in Doubt
Benjamin Netanyahu's party and its allies won 53 seats in Israel's Parliament, short of the outright majority needed to form a government, The New York Times reported. Neither his bloc nor his main challenger won a majority, which makes a prolonged deadlock possible.
The Knesset, as Israel's 120-seat Parliament is called, is the body that must approve a government. Its members are chosen by national vote, and governing usually requires a coalition, meaning a group of parties that agrees to work together. The Guardian reported that Netanyahu's coalition fell from 68 seats to 53 in this round of voting. Of those 53, 27 belong to his Likud party, according to France 24.
The opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot won 48 seats, the same France 24 report said. Arab-majority lists won 19 seats. Israel's Arab minority makes up 21 percent of the population, and its members are Palestinian by heritage but Israeli citizens, Reuters noted before the vote. Voters backing two leading Arab parties turned out in record numbers to express opposition to the Netanyahu government, according to The New York Times.
Because no side reached a majority, Arab lawmakers could become kingmakers, meaning their support could decide which camp forms the next government. The opposition "Change" bloc has pledged not to join forces with Netanyahu in coalition talks, Al Jazeera reported.
Likud has responded sharply. Its statements, as the BBC reported, alleged foreign interference after the coalition lost its majority, and said Arab-led parties "stole" the election.
The outcome also differs from the last time a broad coalition formed. In June 2021, a group of right-wing, left-wing, centrist and Arab parties commanded a majority in the 120-member Knesset.
Until a new government is sworn in, Netanyahu remains in office as caretaker. Experts quoted by Reuters said a caretaker government can keep significant powers, including the authority to wage war on Iran.
