# Netanyahu and Eisenkot Stuck in Political Deadlock

- Topic: world
- Source: [jpost.com](https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-914190)
- Published: 2026-11-08
- Original: https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-914190
- Language: en
- Image: https://images.jpost.com/image/upload/f_auto,fl_lossy/q_auto/c_fill,g_faces:center,h_720,w_1280/743688

## At a glance

- Netanyahu’s 46‑member coalition cannot secure a majority without Arab support in the 26th Knesset.
- Eisenkot’s bloc of 67 MKs relies on Arab parties’ 19 seats to approach a majority.
- President Herzog is pushing for a national unity government, urging Netanyahu to broaden his coalition.
- The current Knesset Speaker, Amir Ohana, is expected to block Eisenkot’s plan to elect a new speaker.

## Sources

- [jpost.com](https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-914190)

## The story

Israel’s political stalemate has left Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot unable to form a stable coalition, threatening another election. President Isaac Herzog has asked parties that cleared the 2026 election threshold to recommend a government, but Arab parties’ record 19 seats and their support for Eisenkot tipped the balance. Eisenkot’s bloc, backed by 67 MKs, cannot secure a majority without Arab support, while Netanyahu’s 46‑member coalition would also struggle to win a majority in the 26th Knesset. Herzog has openly advocated for a national unity government, urging Netanyahu to consider a broader coalition, but Netanyahu insists on a right‑wing majority that excludes the Arab parties. The current Knesset Speaker, Amir Ohana, is expected to block Eisenkot’s plan to elect a new speaker and keep the outgoing parliament in control for a few more weeks. Eisenkot may attempt a minority government with the bloc of change and Ra’am, or a 56‑member coalition, but such arrangements would still lack a clear majority. If neither side can form a government, Israel faces the possibility of fresh elections, which would extend the transition period and deepen political uncertainty. The deadlock underscores the fragility of Israel’s coalition politics and the challenges of balancing right‑wing, centrist, and Arab interests in a fragile democracy.

> Summary by Daily Read Bytes. [Read the original source](https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-914190)