Can Netanyahu Survive Israel’s Latest Electoral Setback?
News Desk
Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing a major political challenge after preliminary election projections indicated that his right-wing coalition had lost significant parliamentary support, leaving the country on the brink of a political deadlock.
Although Netanyahu’s Likud party emerged as the largest single party, exit polls suggest that his coalition has fallen short of the majority needed to form the next government. The outcome could trigger weeks of political negotiations and raise the possibility of another general election.
According to the Central Elections Committee, more than 5.7 million people out of approximately 7.3 million eligible voters participated in the election, recording a turnout of 77.7 percent. This was reportedly the highest voter participation rate since 1999. The election took place amid security concerns and growing public dissatisfaction.
Preliminary projections released by Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 indicated that Netanyahu’s coalition would secure approximately 52 seats in the 120-member Knesset, compared with 68 seats previously held. Likud itself was projected to win 27 seats, maintaining its position as the largest individual party but falling short of securing a parliamentary majority.
The opposition bloc, meanwhile, was projected to win 49 seats. The alliance led by former military chief and opposition figure Gadi Eisenkot was expected to secure between 21 and 22 seats, positioning him as a potential contender in the struggle to form the next government.
However, neither side appeared capable of independently reaching the 61-seat threshold required to command a parliamentary majority. The resulting political uncertainty is expected to intensify negotiations among rival parties as they seek to assemble a viable governing coalition.
Another significant feature of the election was the projected increase in parliamentary representation for Arab political parties, including the Joint List and Ra’am. Together, the parties were estimated to win 19 seats, potentially giving them considerable influence over the government-formation process.
Netanyahu, however, rejected the prospect of partnering with Arab parties. Speaking in Jerusalem on Wednesday morning, he acknowledged the decline in his coalition’s projected seats but maintained that he continued to enjoy the support of a majority of the Zionist and Jewish public. He also described the Arab parties as “anti-Zionist.”
Eisenkot, in contrast, interpreted the projected results as a public mandate for political change. Despite the opposition’s gains, his alliance faces the difficult task of securing support from additional parties to establish a government with a working majority.
Under Israel’s government-formation procedures, the president invites the political leader considered most likely to secure sufficient parliamentary backing to attempt to form a government once the official results are finalized. The designated candidate must negotiate with other parties and assemble a coalition capable of commanding the support of at least 61 members of the Knesset.
If neither Netanyahu nor Eisenkot can secure the necessary support, and no alternative candidate succeeds in building a majority, Israel could face another general election.
For now, the projected results leave Netanyahu’s political future uncertain. His ability to retain power will depend on the outcome of coalition negotiations, the positions adopted by smaller parties and whether his rivals can unite behind an alternative government.
