Netanyahu, Eisenkot blocs struggle to secure majority, raising fears of another election deadlock
Netanyahu's failure to unite smaller right-wing parties could cost his bloc crucial Knesset seats, while Eisenkot's opposition camp also struggles to secure a governing majority.
As Israel prepares for its upcoming election, a looming threat of another political deadlock is casting shadows over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's rule. In the weeks preceding the Oct. 27 vote, Netanyahu finds himself in a precarious position, struggling to secure a majority coalition in the Knesset with his smaller political allies.
Israel's electoral system mandates that the prime minister must form a coalition comprising a majority of the 120 Knesset seats. Consequently, Netanyahu's chances of retaining power hinge on the performance of his smaller political allies during the vote.
Currently, 38 parties are vying for seats in the Knesset, though only those securing at least 3.25% of the total vote are likely to gain entry. The anticipated lineup includes three or four right-wing parties led by Netanyahu's Likud list, four or five center-left parties represented by Gadi Eizenkot's Yashar party, two Haredi Orthodox parties, and two predominantly Arab parties.
However, the right-wing parties' failure to unite as Netanyahu had anticipated has exacerbated his predicament. Religious Zionism, led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, and Otzma Yehudit, headed by Itamar Ben-Gvir and Amcha Yisrael, commanded by retired Brig.-Gen. Ofer Winter, remain separate entities. As a result, both Smotrich's and Winter's parties fall short of the electoral threshold, jeopardizing their chances of securing Knesset seats.
With the 3.25% threshold equating to just four Knesset seats, the wasted votes could significantly undermine Netanyahu's coalition-building efforts. The political scientist Dr. Gayil Talshir from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem underscores that Netanyahu is currently in his weakest position in terms of coalition-building for over a decade.
Despite the challenges, Netanyahu's potential coalition partners remain divided on the inclusion of Arab parties in a governing coalition. The Joint List party, comprising three Arab parties, has united to counteract this exclusion, which could bolster their chances of securing a seat in the Knesset. However, most political camps adamantly oppose the presence of Arab parties in a coalition, presenting a significant hurdle for Netanyahu in forming a governing majority.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
