Israeli Politicsupdated 1h ago3 min read
Benjamin Netanyahu Seeks Broad National Government Under His Leadership After October 27 Election
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Netanyahu open to broad national government under his leadership. Excludes Arab parties; coalition to include anti-terror partners, ultra-Orthodox, right-wing.
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15 outlets told this the same way.
Outlets did split on Thousands Rally in Tel Aviv for Gadi Eisenkot to Form Government With Arab Parties →
Netanyahu seeks broad coalition
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was open to forming a “broad national government” under his leadership after the October 27 Knesset elections left neither bloc with the required 61 seats out of 120. Netanyahu wrote on X, “From day one, we extended our hand to form a broad national unity government,” and he added that he was open to dialogue and seeking a government that “does not support terrorism.” Netanyahu accused Meretz and the Joint List of supporting terrorism and denying the existence of a Jewish state, while the two Arab parties, the Joint List and Ra’am, won 19 seats and became an influential force in tilting alliance balances.
“From day one, we extended our hand to form a broad national unity government.”
The official results were to be submitted to Israeli President Isaac Herzog on November 4, in preparation for consultations with the parties about entrusting one of the candidates to form a new government. The Japan Times said Netanyahu called for a broad coalition government under his leadership as opposition party heads led by Gadi Eisenkot prepared to meet in Herzliya after the election delivered no majority for either camp.
Opposition backs Eisenkot
Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party said the leaders of the “change” grouping would meet “to discuss coordinating the bloc’s next steps” in Herzliya on Tuesday morning. The Japan Times said the meeting would be the diverse opposition grouping’s first since last week’s close-fought election delivered no majority for either camp, and it framed the gathering as opposition leaders endorsing Eisenkot for prime minister. Netanyahu claimed that “the public in Israel does not want a government that is dependent on Ra'am and the Joint List,” and Netanyahu insisted he should remain prime minister.
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s Together party, Yair Golan’s Democrats, and Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beytenu decided to recommend that President Isaac Herzog task Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot with forming the next government. TRT World said the two Arab parliamentary lists were expected to recommend Eisenkot, potentially raising his support to 67 lawmakers in the 120-member Knesset, while it also said Lieberman rejected joining a government that includes Arab parties or depends on their parliamentary support.
Herzog consultations and constraints
The Media Line said Central Election Committee chair Justice Noam Sohlberg rejected Netanyahu’s request to delay certification, stating, “The Central Election Committee has no authority to withhold the certification of the results.” The Media Line said President Isaac Herzog was scheduled to begin receiving party leaders Wednesday to hear their nominations, and it said Herzog had publicly backed a unity government that would bring Netanyahu together with the opposition parties. Netanyahu called for a “broad national government” made up of anti-terror parties and quoted Netanyahu writing, “We aim to form a broad government with our partners and with any other party that wishes to join, provided they do not support terrorism.”
“We aim to form a broad government with our partners and with any other party that wishes to join, provided they do not support terrorism.”
The Times of Israel said election results saw Likud win 27 seats, Netanyahu’s bloc at 53 overall, Yashar winning 21 seats with Gadi Eisenkot’s bloc at 48 total, and Arab parties winning 19 seats. Herzog was scheduled to begin two days of consultations with parliamentary factions on Wednesday before selecting a lawmaker to receive the mandate to form the next government, while it said recommendations to Herzog did not guarantee the formation of a governing coalition.