Israel's president opens coalition talks after October 27 election
Rule Changes
Eisenkot and Liberman agreed on November 9 to open talks with the ultra-Orthodox parties, as the new Knesset is sworn in and the opposition moves to replace its speaker
Gadi Eisenkot and Avigdor Liberman met on November 9 and agreed to open talks with the ultra-Orthodox parties Shas and United Torah Judaism, with a softer military draft law on offer. They also agreed that a Yashar lawmaker, Matan Kahana, would be the bloc's candidate for Knesset speaker.
The 26th Knesset was sworn in on November 10, and the opposition moved to replace Speaker Amir Ohana. United Torah Judaism wants binding guarantees that a law shielding yeshiva students from conscription will pass before it backs Eisenkot. Eisenkot told his faction the bloc would not surrender on service for all citizens.
Why it matters
The next coalition decides whether Netanyahu's laws curbing courts and media survive, and whether Arab-led parties help pick the prime minister.
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Key Indicators
67
Eisenkot endorsements
Lawmakers who recommended Eisenkot for prime minister in presidential consultations, as of November 7.
46
Netanyahu endorsements
Lawmakers who recommended Netanyahu in presidential consultations, as of November 7.
53
Netanyahu bloc seats
Likud and its allies in the 120-seat Knesset, per the final count.
48
Opposition bloc seats
Parties in Gadi Eisenkot's camp, 13 short of a majority.
19
Arab-led party seats
A record high, up from 10 in the 2022 election.
61
Seats for a majority
The threshold a governing coalition must reach.
28
Days to form government
Eisenkot's coalition-building window, with a possible 14-day extension.
27 events
Latest: Yesterday
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November 2026
26th Knesset sworn in as opposition moves to replace speaker
LatestPolitical
The new Knesset was sworn in, and opposition lawmakers requested a vote for a new speaker to replace Netanyahu loyalist Amir Ohana. President Isaac Herzog urged lawmakers to investigate the October 7 attacks and warned against another election.
Eisenkot names Matan Kahana as speaker candidate
Political
Eisenkot said he had agreed with the leaders of the change parties on candidates for key Knesset posts, naming Matan Kahana of Yashar as speaker.
Eisenkot says bloc will not surrender on conscription
Political
At the first Yashar faction meeting, Eisenkot said the bloc was committed to service for all citizens and would not give up its principles. Liberman said he would act as Eisenkot's "right-hand man."
Eisenkot and Liberman agree to open talks with ultra-Orthodox parties
Political
The two leaders agreed to open discussions with Shas and United Torah Judaism, with a softened military draft law reportedly on offer in exchange for support for an Eisenkot-led government.
UTJ demands binding guarantees on draft law
Political
United Torah Judaism said it would not rely on written coalition agreements alone and sought guarantees that legislation protecting yeshiva students from conscription would pass. A proposal to install MK Yaakov Asher as interim Knesset speaker was discussed.
Eisenkot receives the mandate to form a government
Political
President Isaac Herzog handed Gadi Eisenkot the task of forming the next government, starting his 28-day window with a possible 14-day extension.
Change bloc splits over bringing in ultra-Orthodox parties
Political
Members of Eisenkot's bloc disagreed openly over the price of a coalition with Shas and United Torah Judaism. Liberman said flexibility on the draft does not erase his red lines and denied sabotaging Eisenkot; Eisenkot and Yair Golan kept demanding equal military service.
Eisenkot opens coalition talks with Bennett
Political
Hours after receiving the mandate, Eisenkot began negotiations with Naftali Bennett and was set to meet Avigdor Liberman on November 9. Liberman has refused to back a minority government that relies on Arab-led parties.
Eisenkot says he is open to Netanyahu joining the government
Political
After Herzog handed him the mandate, Eisenkot said he was open to Benjamin Netanyahu joining a government he leads, Al Jazeera reported.
Report: Shas would consider backing an Eisenkot government
Political
Yishai Cohen of the haredi news site Kikar Hashabbat told 103FM that Shas would consider joining or supporting a government led by Eisenkot if the status of yeshiva students is settled, but is waiting for United Torah Judaism to move first.
Herzog picks Eisenkot to form government
Political
After consultations, Herzog said he would task Gadi Eisenkot with forming a government. Eisenkot had 67 recommendations to Netanyahu's 46; the formal mandate ceremony was set for November 8 at 5 p.m.
Report: Ra'am would back Eisenkot government without coalition deal
Political
Haaretz reported that Ra'am would vote for an Eisenkot-led government even without a coalition agreement. The Joint List would not vote for it but would not act to topple it, according to the report.
Liberman offers to sit with ultra-Orthodox parties
Political
Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman said he would accept "painful compromises" on Haredi military enlistment to form a government without Netanyahu or the Arab-led parties. United Torah Judaism voiced openness to talks.
Eisenkot wins 67 endorsements, including Arab-led parties
Political
Ra'am and the Joint List back Gadi Eisenkot for prime minister, lifting his endorsements to 67 lawmakers. Netanyahu's bloc holds 46, and United Torah Judaism's Degel HaTorah faction recommends neither candidate.
Herzog certifies results and opens coalition consultations
Political
President Isaac Herzog accepts the certified election results as legally binding and begins meeting party leaders. The Central Elections Committee also rejects Netanyahu's claims of mass fraud.
October 2026
Final results confirm no bloc has a majority
Election
Netanyahu's bloc wins 53 seats, the opposition bloc 48 and Arab-led parties a record 19. Neither side reaches 61 in the 120-seat Knesset.
Opposition moves to replace Knesset speaker
Political
Parties opposed to Netanyahu, holding 67 seats between them, push to elect a new speaker. Likud says the vote should wait for a Shin Bet inquiry into foreign interference.
Ultra-Orthodox party floats backing Eisenkot from outside
Political
Channel 12 reports United Torah Judaism, with seven seats, would abstain in exchange for compromises on the military draft and accept Eisenkot relying on Ra'am's votes.
Party leaders open coalition talks
Political
Eisenkot's camp meets in several configurations, including with Ra'am chairman Mansour Abbas. Netanyahu meets Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich to discuss keeping a right-wing government.
Israelis vote for the 26th Knesset
Election
Voters choose all 120 Knesset members. Polls close at 10 p.m. local time; final results released on October 30 show no bloc with 61 seats.
Netanyahu denies report of pre-vote clash over Iran
Political
Netanyahu's office calls a Channel 12 report of a pre-vote clash with the military over a possible Iran action "fake news."
Gantz withdraws Blue and White from election
Political
Blue and White leader Benny Gantz says his party will not stand in the October 27 election after polls showed it short of the Knesset threshold. Because the withdrawal came late, the party stays on the ballot and votes for it are wasted.
July 2026
Knesset dissolves, sets October 27 vote
Political
Parliament votes 62-0 to disband, ending the first full four-year term since 1988. Netanyahu votes in favor.
Coalition guts attorney general's powers
Legislation
The Knesset votes 65-51 to let ministers reject the attorney general's legal opinions and to give the coalition more say over the post.
June 2026
Netanyahu ends trial testimony
Legal
The prime minister wraps up 98 hearings across 18 months in his corruption trial, which now heads to closing arguments.
July 2025
Ultra-Orthodox parties quit the coalition
Political
United Torah Judaism leaves the government over a military draft dispute, cutting Netanyahu near 60 seats.
December 2022
Netanyahu returns to power
Political
Netanyahu forms a coalition with religious and far-right parties, starting the 25th Knesset's term.
Scenarios
1
Netanyahu forms another government after the vote
Possible
Resolves by Jan 31, 2027
Discussed by: Haaretz and Times of Israel polling coverage; Britannica election preview
Likud stays the largest party and, with its religious and far-right allies, reaches 61 seats. Netanyahu is tasked by the president with forming a coalition and returns as prime minister. Polls before the October 27 vote showed Likud and its allies close to the opposition blocs, with neither side projected to reach 61 seats. The outcome turns on turnout and whether smaller right-wing parties clear the 3.25% threshold.
2
Anti-Netanyahu bloc wins and replaces him
Possible
Resolves by Q1 2027
Discussed by: Times of Israel poll reports; Steptoe strategic outlook
Opposition parties led by Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar Party, plus Naftali Bennett, Avigdor Liberman and others, together reach 61 seats and agree on a government without Likud. A new prime minister is sworn in and moves to reverse or freeze the media and attorney-general laws. Fragmented negotiations and personal rivalries are the main obstacle to a stable alternative bloc.
3
Deadlock forces another election
Unlikely
Resolves by May 31, 2027
Discussed by: Analysts cited by Haaretz and The Times of Israel
Neither bloc reaches 61 seats, and coalition talks collapse over the same splits that have marked recent years. If no one can form a government within the legal windows, Israel heads back to the polls, repeating the pattern of five elections between 2019 and 2022. This depends on close results and refusals to sit together.
4
Eisenkot governs with outside support from ultra-Orthodox parties
Uncertain
Resolves by End of 2026
Discussed by: Channel 12, reported by ABC News
United Torah Judaism, with seven seats, and Shas, with six, could keep Eisenkot in power by staying out of no-confidence votes, giving his 48-seat bloc 61 seats without Arab-led parties. Shas denied the reports and said it remains in the right-wing bloc.
5
Herzog tasks Eisenkot with forming a government
Possible
Resolves by Nov 11, 2026
Discussed by: Ynet and Channel 12, cited by Al Jazeera and The Jerusalem Post
After consultations, Herzog names Gadi Eisenkot as the candidate best placed to assemble a coalition. Eisenkot would then have 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension, to reach 61 seats. His 67 endorsements include both Arab-led parties, but a formal coalition would still need to bridge differences among parties that have not governed together.
6
Eisenkot fails to form a government and Netanyahu gets the next mandate
Possible
Resolves by Dec 20, 2026
Discussed by: The Times of Israel and Reuters
If Eisenkot cannot assemble 61 seats within 28 days, or 42 with an extension, Herzog could turn to another candidate. The Times of Israel reports Netanyahu could next be given the chance. A second failure raises the prospect of a third candidate or another election.
7
Shas backs an Eisenkot government in exchange for a yeshiva draft law
Uncertain
Resolves by Dec 20, 2026
Discussed by: Yishai Cohen of Kikar Hashabbat, on 103FM, cited by The Jerusalem Post
Shas, with six seats, would join or support a government led by Eisenkot if legislation regulating the status of yeshiva students passes. Cohen said the party is waiting for United Torah Judaism to leave Netanyahu's bloc first, and that Shas fears losing traditional voters who back Netanyahu.
8
UTJ joins an Eisenkot-led coalition after securing draft law guarantees
Uncertain
Resolves by Dec 6, 2026
Discussed by: Kan public broadcaster and Channel 12, cited by The Times of Israel; Ynet, cited by Matzav
United Torah Judaism would join Gadi Eisenkot's government if it gets binding guarantees that legislation shielding yeshiva students from conscription passes first. The party has discussed installing MK Yaakov Asher as interim Knesset speaker to bring the bill to a vote. UTJ has said it will not rely on written coalition agreements alone.
Historical Context
3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.
1 of 3
April 2019 - November 2022
Israel's five elections in four years (2019-2022)
Israel held five national elections in under four years because no bloc could form a stable majority. Netanyahu lost power in 2021 to a broad coalition under Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, then returned in late 2022. Each round turned largely on whether voters backed or opposed Netanyahu.
Then
The 2021 government collapsed within a year, triggering the fifth vote.
Now
Netanyahu came back at the head of his most right-wing coalition yet.
Why this matters now
It shows how fragile Israeli coalitions are and why a deadlock in October could again mean no clear winner.
2 of 3
January - September 2023
The judicial overhaul protests (2023)
Netanyahu's government pushed a plan to limit the Supreme Court's power over the government. Hundreds of thousands protested for months, and reservists threatened to stop serving. The Supreme Court later struck down a central piece of the plan.
Then
The fight split the country before the October 7 war paused it.
Now
The dispute over the courts and the attorney general never ended and shapes the 2026 campaign.
Why this matters now
The laws passed in the Knesset's final week revive the same fight over checks on government power.
3 of 3
1988 - 1992
The 1988 Knesset's full term
The last time before now that an Israeli parliament served a complete four-year term. In the decades since, coalitions repeatedly broke apart early, forcing snap elections well before schedule.
Then
The 1992 vote brought Yitzhak Rabin's Labor government to power.
Now
Early collapses became the norm, making a full term rare.
Why this matters now
Reaching the four-year mark this time is itself unusual and marks how the current coalition held together despite strains.
