Israel’s 26th Knesset was sworn in on Tuesday, 10 November, after the general election held on 27 October. The 120‑member parliament now faces uncertainty over who will form a governing coalition, as the Likud‑led alliance of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fell short of a majority.
Netanyahu remains in a caretaker role while parties negotiate a new government. President Isaac Herzog has tasked former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, with forming the next cabinet. Eisenkot has six weeks to secure the 61 seats needed for a majority. The election results left Netanyahu’s bloc with 53 seats, Eisenkot’s coalition with 48, and the remaining 19 seats held by Arab‑led parties.
Following the inauguration, opposition lawmakers introduced a series of legislative proposals aimed at reversing key decisions of the outgoing administration. The measures include setting up a state commission of inquiry into the 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks, limiting the number of terms a prime minister can serve, and scrapping the judicial overhaul pursued by Netanyahu’s government. Opponents have also begun moves to replace Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, a close ally of Netanyahu, with Matan Kahana from Eisenkot’s party.
During the ceremony, Netanyahu called for a unity government but criticised the prospect of opposition parties relying on Arab‑led groups to secure a majority. Eisenkot described the prime minister’s remarks as divisive.
“We must avoid another general election and embrace compromise for the sake of political stability,” President Herzog said to the new parliament.
If Eisenkot fails to assemble a coalition within the allotted time, Netanyahu could be given a second chance to form a government. Should both attempts fail, Israel may be forced to hold another election.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
