Netanyahu’s bloc fell eight seats short of a Knesset majority on October 27, winning 53 of 120 seats to 48 for Gadi Eisenkot’s camp. The Arab parties took a record 19 on turnout of about 80% in Arab communities, up from 54% in 2022.
Netanyahu will stay on as caretaker PM until a new government is sworn in. As leader of the largest party (Likud with 27 seats), he is also the most likely recipient of President Herzog’s first mandate to form a government, which runs 28 days and can be extended by 14.
Netanyahu and Likud have spent…