Israel is facing weeks, and possibly months, of political uncertainty after the final election results showed that neither Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc nor the opposition secured the 61 seats needed to form a government.
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bloc → face → government
The results have left the country with a hung parliament, with Arab-led parties potentially holding the key to the next government.
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parties → leave → government
According to CNN, the results released by election officials early Friday showed Netanyahu's right-wing bloc winning 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset, while the opposition, led by centrist Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot, secured 48 seats.
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opposition → accord → seats
Arab-led parties won the remaining 19 seats.
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parties → lead → seats
The opposition has accused the longest-serving PM Netanyahu of targeting the Arab population and attempting to undermine the election's credibility after the historic performance by Arab-led parties.
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opposition → accuse → parties
If the opposition joins hands with the Arab parties, it could potentially secure a parliamentary majority.
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it → join → majority
However, such an arrangement would be politically challenging, given the differences within the opposition bloc over working with Arab parties.
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arrangement → give → parties
CNN outlined four possible scenarios that could shape Israel's political future.
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that → outline → future
On paper, the opposition's clearest route to replacing Netanyahu is through cooperation with Arab-led parties.
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route → replace → parties
However, this could prove difficult.
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this → prove → ?
Two right-wing opposition leaders, former prime minister Naftali Bennett and former defence minister Avigdor Liberman, have opposed forming a government that depends on the support of the two Arab parties in parliament, the Joint List and Ra'am.
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that → oppose → parliament
They are against both joining a coalition with the parties and relying on their support from outside.
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They → join → outside
Their positions have hardened since the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel.
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positions → harden → Israel
Only one government in Israel's history has included an Arab party as a full coalition partner.
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government → include → partner
In 2021, Ra'am joined an eight-party coalition that succeeded in removing Netanyahu from power.
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that → join → power
However, the government collapsed after just over a year.
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government → collapse → year
Even if the opposition fails to form a government, its parties could work together in parliament to replace the Knesset speaker and other key officials.
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parties → fail → speaker
This could limit the powers of Netanyahu's caretaker government.
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This → limit → government
However, forming a coalition to replace him would remain a complicated political task.
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forming → form → him
A national unity govt
Another possibility is the formation of a national unity government, with parties from both the Netanyahu-led bloc and the opposition joining hands.
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parties → lead → hands
Such an arrangement would involve Netanyahu's Likud party, some of its existing coalition partners and at least one party from the opposition.
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arrangement → involve → opposition
Netanyahu is believed to be willing to part ways with far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
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Netanyahu → believe → Gvir
However, he is not expected to give up his alliance with far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and the ultra-Orthodox parties.
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he → expect → Smotrich
Eisenkot, however, has ruled out joining a government led by Netanyahu.
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Eisenkot → rule → Netanyahu
Any change in that position could also anger voters who want to see Netanyahu leave office.
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Netanyahu → anger → office
Netanyahu forms govt with oppn defectors
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Netanyahu → form → defectors
Netanyahu could also try to attract lawmakers from opposition parties to secure the numbers needed to form a government.
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Netanyahu → try → government
However, all four opposition leaders, Eisenkot, Bennett, Liberman and Yair Golan, have ruled out joining a government led by him.
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leaders → rule → him
With Netanyahu's bloc eight seats short of a majority, he would need to persuade at least eight opposition lawmakers to switch sides.
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he → need → sides
This could prove difficult given the leaders' firm positions.
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This → prove → positions
Israel heads for another election
If none of the political arrangements work, Israel could be forced to hold another election.
President Isaac Herzog is expected to hold consultations with the leaders of parties that have entered the Knesset.
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that → head → Knesset
After hearing their views, he will ask one of them to try to form a government.
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he → hear → government
Arab parties are expected to support Eisenkot, which could put the Yashar leader in line to receive the first opportunity.
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which → expect → opportunity
The leader chosen by the president will have 28 days to form a government.
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leader → choose → government
The period can be extended by another 14 days if required.
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period → extend → days
If the attempt fails, the president can give another leader 28 days to form a coalition.
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president → fail → coalition
If that also fails, a majority of Knesset members can ask the president to nominate a third candidate, who will have 14 days to put together a government.
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who → fail → government
If all three attempts fail, the country will have to return to the polls.
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country → fail → polls
Netanyahu could benefit from prolonged deadlock
According to CNN, Netanyahu may be in a position to benefit from the lengthy government formation process.
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Netanyahu → benefit → process
As caretaker prime minister, Bibi can remain in office while political parties try to reach an agreement.
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parties → remain → agreement
…and 3 more, not listed.
The Aporia
