Netanyahu loses religious party’s support as rival tipped to form govt

Israeli-Arab parties secured 19 seats in the recent Israeli election, fueled by dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's conservative government. In a significant development, the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party, which had previously supported Netanyahu in all previous five elections, refrained from endorsing him for a potential return as prime minister during President Isaac Herzog's consultations.

The decision, however, did not indicate support for his rival, Gadi Eisenkot. United Torah Judaism comprises ultra-Orthodox Jews of Ashkenazi origin and Shas, representing a similar community but of Sephardic descent. Both parties have aligned with Netanyahu over the years, advocating for an exemption from military service for religious students, a policy that has faced significant backlash from other Israelis due to the ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran.

Netanyahu's stance, while preserving the exemption, has not yet formalized it legally. Eisenkot, a former military chief, has been a vocal advocate for ending the exemptions, drawing harsh criticism from some opposition allies who accuse ultra-Orthodox Jews of being self-serving. United Torah Judaism's stance might be a strategic move to demonstrate that their votes are not guaranteed and could still collaborate with a government led by Netanyahu.

President Herzog will convene major party representatives to decide on the formation of a government, likely asking Eisenkot as he holds 48 seats in the new 120-member parliament, compared to United Torah Judaism's 53 seats. If Herzog does not receive a mandate within 28 days, he can extend the deadline by another 14 days. Failure to form a government will result in Herzog seeking input from other politicians.