Israel election: When will government be formed, who will lead it? — SkimNews
Get the Geopolitics newsletter
Daily geopolitics — wars, elections, sanctions, the diplomatic moves that move markets. Free.
- Netanyahu's bloc won 53 of 120 seats in the October 27 election—Likud 27, United Torah Judaism 7, Otzma Yehudit 7, Shas 6 and Religious Zionism 6—leaving it eight short of a majority.
- Joint List won 11 seats and Ra'am eight, giving Arab-led parties 19; the Jewish opposition won 48, so every existing bloc finished below the 61 seats needed to govern alone.
- Herzog must designate a Knesset member to form a government by November 11, after results are certified by November 4 and the new Knesset is sworn in November 10; the designee has 28 days, extendable by 14.
- Eisenkot is one of Herzog's most likely choices to form a government, and Yedioth Ahronoth reported that he has an edge over Netanyahu because some Arab-led parties are considering endorsing him.
- Mansour Abbas signaled that Ra'am's conditions would not obstruct working with the opposition camp, while Joint List's Yousef Jabareen said his party was ready for “the ousting of the Netanyahu government.”
- Ehud Barak said opposition parties “can change their mind” about partnering with Arab-led parties despite earlier refusals; even without joining the coalition, the 19-seat bloc can support a minority government in a Knesset confidence vote.
- Netanyahu remains caretaker prime minister until a new government is formed; if the initial 28-day mandate plus a possible 14-day extension fails, another candidate gets 28 days and a third 14 before dissolution and a new election within 90 days.
Why it matters: Arab-led parties hold 19 seats and have signaled openness to an opposition government, giving Eisenkot a route that Jewish opposition leaders had previously ruled out. If that bridge fails, the first candidate’s 28-day term plus a 14-day extension can consume 42 days before another candidate is considered, extending Netanyahu’s caretaker tenure.
Ask SkimNews
