Israeli Opposition Prepares Emergency Government After 48-53 Seat Split Leaves No Bloc Near 61
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Nov 3
Israeli Opposition Prepares Emergency Government After 48-53 Seat Split Leaves No Bloc Near 61
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Nov 3
Summary
Opposition leaders said Tuesday they were ready to move immediately to replace Benjamin Netanyahu with a national emergency government once election results are certified on Wednesday.
The push follows an October 27 deadlock: Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc won 53 seats, Gadi Eisenkot’s opposition alliance 48, and the two Arab-led lists 19, leaving both camps short of the 61 needed in the 120-seat Knesset.
That arithmetic leaves the opposition needing either Arab-party backing or a defection by an ultra-Orthodox party, but Arab support remains divisive inside the bloc and Joint List sources said they do not expect an invitation soon.
President Isaac Herzog will consult parties after certification and can give a lawmaker 28 days, extendable by 14, to form a coalition, while Likud is still questioning Arab-party votes despite police discounting its claims.
The new Knesset is due to be sworn in on November 10, but analysts say fractured opposition coordination, Netanyahu’s pardon request and any Iran-related security crisis could still upend coalition talks.