Israel faces a complicated political situation after the parliamentary elections, as neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s camp nor the opposition has managed to secure the numbers needed to form the new government.
According to the final results, the bloc led by Netanyahu, which includes Likud and its right-wing and ultra-Orthodox allies, has won 53 seats in the 120-seat parliament, while the opposition led by Gadi Eisenkot has secured 48 seats.
In this situation, attention is focused on the Arab parties, which have achieved a historic result with 19 seats in the Knesset. Their support could be decisive for creating a parliamentary majority, which requires at least 61 deputies.
However, forming a coalition against Netanyahu does not appear easy. Several opposition parties, among them those of Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Liberman, have expressed their opposition to cooperating with the Arab parties, narrowing the options for a political agreement.
The possibility of forming a government of national unity, in which Likud would cooperate with some opposition forces, also remains on the negotiating table. But this scenario also appears difficult, as Gadi Eisenkot has categorically ruled out a joint government with Netanyahu.
Another option for the current prime minister is to secure the support of individual deputies from the opposing camp, in an effort to reach the necessary majority.
If neither side manages to reach an agreement, the country may face new early elections, further deepening political instability.
Responsibility for the next step now rests with President Isaac Herzog, who will hold consultations with political parties before giving one of the candidates the mandate to form a government.
The process is expected to last several weeks. Until an agreement is reached and a new cabinet is formed, Benjamin Netanyahu will continue to serve as caretaker prime minister.