Netanyahu Bloc Falls Short in Israel Election; Coalition Talks Begin

Jerusalem, Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition lost its parliamentary majority in Tuesday’s election, according to final results released early Friday. His bloc won 53 seats in the 120-seat Knesset. The main opposition bloc captured 48 seats. Arab-led parties secured the remaining 19 seats, marking a historic showing. Parties must now negotiate to assemble a government of at least 61 members.

Netanyahu remains in charge as Israel’s longest-serving prime minister while these talks proceed. Yair Lapid, a centrist politician, described the coming period as the truly hard part. He posted on X that silence does not mean inaction. He urged the public to be patient, stating that activity is occurring behind the scenes.

The decision ahead involves politically sensitive choices. Opposition parties that campaigned to unseat Netanyahu must decide whether to partner with Arab-led groups or form a unity government with his camp. Beny Engalrd, a resident of Tel Aviv, noted that Israeli politics offers more options than the two-party system in the United States. Israelis debated these possibilities on Friday, the day before Shabbat, with some expressing traditional wariness about Arab parties and others urging acceptance.

President Isaac Herzog will task an individual with forming the new government after results are certified next Wednesday. This person could be Netanyahu, who received the most votes, or another leader deemed suitable by party heads. If multiple attempts to form a government fail, Israel faces a new election early next year. Herzog said he will work to avoid a repeat vote.

In the hours before final results, Netanyahu and his Likud party amplified unsubstantiated claims that Arab-led parties stole the election, potentially with foreign help. The opposition accused Netanyahu of demonizing the Arab population, which comprises 20% of the country. They cited the high turnout driven by outrage over far-right allies like National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Netanyahu posted on X that forming a coalition with Arab parties is forbidden. Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, head of the election committee, stated that serious suspicions of foreign interference were brought before him. He asked the Shin Bet to investigate but could not verify the claims. Israeli media reported that Likud members accused Qatar of involvement. Qatar called the allegations ridiculous and dangerous.

The election commission said the investigation was based on classified intelligence. Acting Director General Dean Livne warned that reports about the investigation were entirely unfounded. He said the probe does not affect the final results or concern any particular sector of the population. The Shin Bet stated its investigation was not meant to cast aspersions on a population that exercised its right to vote. The elections committee told a concerned member of parliament that allegations of systematic violations were baseless. The committee expects findings from the Shin Bet within a week.

The new Knesset is expected to be sworn in on Nov. 10. Gadi Eisenkot’s bloc could join forces with Arab parties to elect a new Knesset speaker. This would give them control over the parliamentary agenda. It would allow them to advance legislation before a new government is formed. Miri Sklair, a resident of Jaffa, said she believes the parties should cooperate, describing the Arab population as legitimate. If Netanyahu loses office, he would face accountability for yearslong corruption allegations. An inquiry would likely begin into security failures before the Hamas-led attack of Oct. 7, 2023.