President Isaac Herzog will begin consultations after official results are released next week, opening a roughly 100-day window for the Knesset to assemble a coalition. Potential paths include a broad 66-seat unity coalition led by Likud alongside centrist and right-wing opposition factions, or a right-wing government reliant on opposition defectors to bolster Netanyahu's 53-seat bloc. Alternatively, Gadi Eisenkot could assemble a 67-seat majority by relying on outside backing from Arab factions holding 19 seats. However, that minority framework requires reversing previous campaign pledges amid heightened public scrutiny following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.
Key points
The Knesset must successfully establish a viable governing coalition within roughly 100 d…: The Knesset must successfully establish a viable governing coalition within roughly 100 days to avoid calling another general election.
Benjamin Netanyahu requires individual opposition defections to secure a majority because…: Benjamin Netanyahu requires individual opposition defections to secure a majority because his traditional political bloc fell to just 53 seats.
Any prospective coalition scenario demands that competing faction leaders abandon core ca…: Any prospective coalition scenario demands that competing faction leaders abandon core campaign stances to reach a parliamentary majority.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Below are potential scenarios moving forward:
Another election
Once the official election results are released next week, President Isaac Herzog will consult with party leaders to select the candidate he considers most likely to form a government.
Read live Israel election updates here.
If that candidate fails, a second candidate can try, and if they also fail, the Knesset may nominate a candidate. The entire process has a window of roughly 100 days. If no government is formed within that timeframe, a new election will take place.
On Wednesday, Herzog emphasized that every effort should be made to prevent another election, asking parties to participate in consultations with an open mind.
Unity government
As the largest party in the Knesset, Netanyahu's Likud party forms a coalition alongside centrist and right-wing opposition factions, such as Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar (the second-largest party), Avigdor Lieberman's Israel Our Home, and Naftali Bennett's Together faction.
This group would hold 66 seats, securing a majority in the 120-member parliament.
However, this outcome currently appears unlikely. It would require Netanyahu to break away from his usual political…
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