Israel’s deadlock: Could Trump broker Netanyahu-Eisenkot deal?
With most of the votes counted, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his rival, Gadi Eisenkot, find themselves in a political stalemate that may only be resolved if the US president pressures them into forming a unity government.
TEL AVIV — With the majority of votes counted, Israel finds itself in a political stalemate, with neither side able to claim victory. US President Donald Trump may be the only person capable of breaking the deadlock by pressuring the rival camps into forming a unity government, political sources told Al-Monitor.
According to the Central Elections Committee’s figures released Wednesday afternoon, the results put Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud at 26 Knesset seats, with Gadi Eisenkot’s center-right Yashar party trailing in second place with 21. Netanyahu’s bloc of right-wing, far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties holds 53 seats, compared with 48 for the opposing camp, excluding the two Arab parties, which together are projected to win 17 seats.
Although Netanyahu has retained the lead despite the disastrous events of the past three years under his watch, beginning with Hamas’ assault on Oct. 7, 2023, he remains at least seven seats short of a parliamentary majority.
President Isaac Herzog, speaking publicly for the first time since the polls closed, said Wednesday that Israel must avoid another election. "I expect everyone who comes here to come with an open mind,” he said, adding that he would begin consultations with the parties next week after receiving the official results.
