Netanyahu Seeks Path to Retain Power as Opposition Stalls on Palestinian Coalition Partners

Benjamin Netanyahu faces a path to remain in office despite losing his governing mandate in the Israeli election held on Wednesday, October 28. The opposition bloc secured a firm majority with 64 seats in the 120-seat Knesset. However, a pledge by most Jewish opposition parties not to govern alongside Palestinian-led parties creates a political obstacle that could allow the prime minister to stay as a caretaker or trigger new elections.

The election results stripped Netanyahu’s far-right coalition of its mandate, which previously held 64 seats. He lost approximately 10 seats in this vote. Despite the loss, Netanyahu claimed vindication on election night. He stated that the right-wing bloc held a clear and decisive majority among the Zionist public and called for a strong national-right government. The Knesset has moved further right overall, a trend also seen among young Israelis.

Israeli media focused heavily on the coalition dilemma rather than the defeat. The newspaper Israel Hayom ran a headline reading "No Clear Government." Channel 12 published an article titled "Road to Unity Government Has Been Paved." This framing contrasts with the view of Yair Golan, leader of the centre-left Democrats. Golan rejected the idea of a stalemate, stating, "Netanyahu lost. I know how to count." He called for a government formed with Palestinian citizens, who constitute about 20% of Israel's population.

Public opinion appears to diverge from the stated positions of opposition leaders. Political psychology researcher Eran Halperin cited a survey taken as polls closed. The data showed a clear majority of opposition voters supported forming a government with the Palestinian-led Ra'am party to remove Netanyahu. Opposition leaders remained silent on Wednesday. They are weighing their desire to unseat the prime minister against their prior promises. Gadi Eisenkot, who leads the largest opposition party, has not directly ruled out a partnership. However, he set conditions that make it politically difficult for Palestinian parties to join.

Palestinian-led parties have expressed willingness to cooperate. Yousef Jabareen, head of the Joint List, said his party was ready to pave the way for the ousting of the Netanyahu government. He added that change comes through Jewish-Arab partnership. Ra'am, an Islamist party, placed a Jewish former police chief in second position on its candidate list. This move was intended as a sign of commitment to working with Jewish Israelis. The precedent of Yitzhak Rabin relying on Palestinian support for a minority government three decades ago receives little attention in current debates.

Netanyahu’s campaign posters carried the slogan "The right or Palestine." This messaging cast the fifth of the population that is Palestinian as an enemy within the state. Critics noted this strategy was meant to boost his support and complicate coalition talks for rivals. Many Israelis viewed the vote as existential. Concerns centered on the erosion of democracy inside the pre-1967 borders and the push for a State Commission of Inquiry into the 7 October attacks. Palestinian citizens, facing rising crime, discrimination, and home demolitions, turned out in record numbers.

Israel describes itself as a Jewish and democratic state. The election results force a choice between these two identities. If Palestinian representatives are kept out of government because of their ethnicity, the tension between a Jewish future and a democratic one becomes sharper. The opposition must now decide whether to break its pledge or accept a prolonged period of caretaker rule under the current prime minister.