Israel May Be Heading for a New Election as the Knesset Deadlocks
JERUSALEM: Israel’s political horse-trading got under way Friday after a final count showed that neither of the two major blocs won enough seats in this week’s parliamentary election to form a government.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s faction lost its majority but nevertheless won 53 seats, the main opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot won 48 and Arab-led parties gained an unprecedented 19 seats. Now parties must work out how to join forces for 61 seats in the 120-seat Knesset.
“The hard part starts now,” centrist politician Yair Lapid remarked. “Yes, if you want to know if there is something happening beyond the silence.
The results will be presented next Wednesday to President Isaac Herzog who will entrust someone with creating a cabinet. Israel is heading to a new election next year after multiple failed efforts.
Israel’s new Knesset will be sworn in on Nov. 10 while coalition talks continue. Eisenkot’s coalition might join forces with the Arab parties to elect a new Speaker, giving them control over the parliamentary agenda and the ability to approve legislation.
Israelis have been organising rallies calling for Eisenkot to join forces with the Arab-led parties, a move that has been made just once before, in 2021.
We must unite and cooperate with the Arab parties, a legitimate population in the state of Israel,” said Miri Sklair from Jaffa.
Also Read:
Chinese AI Model Conducts out Sophisticated Cyberattacks in Controlled Experiments, Say Researchers
Google’s Value Drops by $500bn as AI worries spread Wall Street
