A new turn in Israel’s election
Benjamin Netanyahu may remain in office as caretaker prime minister after no side won an outright majority in Israel’s election.
With about 86 percent of the votes counted, projections by the country’s three main broadcasters showed Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc could win 53 seats in the 120-seat Knesset. Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot’s alliance could win 48. Parties representing Arab Israelis could win 19 seats.
As a result, Eisenkot has no realistic path to power without broad support from the Arab parties.
Because Eisenkot’s alliance won fewer seats than expected, removing Netanyahu from power has become difficult. Netanyahu will serve as caretaker prime minister while talks on forming a new government continue, and could stay in the post until another election next year if one is needed.
Experts say that although a caretaker government has some limits, it still holds considerable power, including over matters such as war with Iran.
In a speech to supporters of his Likud party early on Wednesday, Netanyahu called for a strong right-wing national government. He also spoke of the possibility of resuming joint military operations with the United States against Iran. US President Donald Trump praised Netanyahu’s election result and claimed his own support had played a part.
Eisenkot warned that Netanyahu, as head of a caretaker government, does not have a full political mandate. He urged the country’s security and government officials to resist any attempt to use the security establishment for political ends.
The result also put pressure on Israel’s financial markets. The shekel fell about 1.6 percent against the US dollar to 3.10 shekels, and the main Tel Aviv stock indices dropped more than 3 percent.
Analysts say the result points to a further strengthening of right-wing politics among Israel’s Jewish voters. It was the country’s first election since the Hamas attack of 7 October 2023. The war in Gaza, the conflict with Iran and Israel’s growing international isolation formed the backdrop to the vote.
Turnout was 77.7 percent, the highest in more than two decades, and was notably high among Israelis of Palestinian descent. But even with the Arab parties likely to gain seats, securing their support for an opposition government could be difficult. Most Jewish political leaders are unwilling to enter a formal alliance with the Arab parties.
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