MAJOR DEVELOPMENT IN ISRAEL. Netanyahu’s grip on power is facing a serious new thr£at.
MAJOR DEVELOPMENT IN ISRAEL. Netanyahu’s grip on power is facing a serious new threat.
Israeli opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot is signaling a major shift, opening the door to forming a new government with the parliamentary backing of Arab Israeli parties—potentially breaking the political deadlock and ending Benjamin Netanyahu’s time as prime minister.
Following Tuesday’s election, Netanyahu’s bloc holds just 53 of the 120 seats in Israel’s parliament, short of the 61 needed for a majority. Eisenkot’s opposition bloc holds 48 seats, while two Arab parties control another 19. Together, they would have 67 seats—enough to replace Netanyahu.
In a new statement, Eisenkot declared that Israeli voters had rejected Netanyahu’s government and called for a new governing coalition. He also pledged to end what he described as the culture of lies under Netanyahu.
Arab Joint List lawmaker Ahmad Tibi has indicated his party is prepared to support a government that removes Netanyahu, even without formally joining the coalition.
Netanyahu is pushing back, declaring that forming a government with the Arab parties is “forbidden.”
Major obstacles remain, including opposition from some of Eisenkot’s potential coalition partners. No new government has been formed.
But after years in power, Netanyahu now faces a real possibility of being forced out—and the votes to make it happen may be there.
