Full Breakdown
Israel’s Post-Election Stalemate: Netanyahu’s Strategy and Opposition Reactions
By Drooid · · How we work
In this breakdown
01
Election Outcome and Immediate Reactions
The recent Knesset election left neither the Netanyahu-aligned bloc nor the opposition bloc with the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-seat parliament. Voter turnout reached 77.7%, a figure highlighted by Yair Lapid as evidence of public engagement. Netanyahu’s Likud party emerged as the largest single party, but the fragmented result has triggered intensive behind-the-scenes negotiations.
02
Netanyahu’s Strategic Silence
Unlike in prior contests, Netanyahu did not contact his allies immediately after the exit polls. Instead, he spent Wednesday morning analyzing the results and formulating a plan to secure a mandate from President Isaac Herzog while limiting the rival “change bloc” from acting unilaterally. Senior Likud ministers at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem argued that Netanyahu should seek partnerships with right-wing figures Avigdor Liberman and Naftali Bennett, though they are expected to refuse service under his leadership. Intermediaries are reportedly being deployed to explore cooperation with opposition parties and to shape a public campaign against the change bloc’s bid for the Knesset speakership.
03
Coalition Negotiations and Party Meetings
Multiple intra-bloc meetings have taken place. Otzma Yehudit’s party chairman and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir held a lengthy meeting with Netanyahu on Thursday (scheduled for November 1, 2025) to discuss preserving a right-wing government. Netanyahu also met with Religious Zionist Party chairman Bezalel Smotrich for coordination of steps. On the opposition side, Democrats chairman Yair Golan met separately with Ra’am chairman Mansour Abbas, Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid, and Yesh Atid chairman Gadi Eisenkot. Naftali Bennett met with Eisenkot and Golan, while Eisenkot and Lapid held a joint appearance on November 1, 2025.
04
Accusations of Undermining Legitimacy
Yesh Atid chairman Gadi Eisenkot accused Netanyahu and Likud of conducting a coordinated campaign to delegitimize the election results. He raised concerns about possible foreign interference, noting recent consultations with the head of the Shin Bet and the chairman of the Central Elections Committee, and called for professional authorities to complete investigations without political pressure. Eisenkot announced that his party is preparing bills for the incoming Knesset, including universal military recruitment, a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 massacre, and reforms to the budget allocation mechanism.
05
Implications and Next Steps
Lapid urged the public to exercise patience, emphasizing that forming any government will require discreet, prolonged negotiations. The ongoing talks aim to either secure a coalition that includes parties from the opposing bloc or force a new election, while both sides balance internal pressures with the need to maintain democratic legitimacy.