Israeli Opposition Pursues Government Without Netanyahu as Arab Coalition Offers Support

Israel's election produced no clear winner. Gadi Eisenkot's bloc won 48 seats, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's camp secured 53, including 27 for Likud, according to Japan Times.

That result has put Israel's main Palestinian coalition at the centre of efforts to form a government. Its leader, Yousef Jabareen, said the country had a historic opportunity to change direction and that he was ready to join forces with the opposition, Top Stories reported.

On November 2, Jabareen offered cooperation after his coalition won a record number of Knesset seats, according to Top Stories. The report described the coalition as holding the balance of power.

Netanyahu set out a competing proposal the same day: a broad national government led by him, without Arab lists. He argued that Likud's position as the largest party entitled him to lead it, NDTV News reported.

Eisenkot rejected joining a Netanyahu-led government, even at US President Donald Trump's request, according to a November 2 report from Anadolu Ajansı. Mehr News reported the same position on November 3, identifying Eisenkot as the Yashar Party leader.

On November 3, opposition party heads gathered in Herzliya, north of Tel Aviv, a week after the inconclusive election, World News CNA reported. They agreed to launch negotiations to form a government that would remove Netanyahu from power, according to Infobae.

The agreement did not settle how they would assemble that government. The opposition pledged to move quickly but remained divided over whether to ally with Arab lawmakers, South China Morning Post reported.

The opposition has agreed to pursue a replacement government, not completed a coalition deal. Its central unresolved issue is whether parties seeking Netanyahu's removal can agree to work with Arab lawmakers, according to South China Morning Post.

Netanyahu continues to advocate a broad government while rejecting dependence on Arab-led parties, News18 reported. That leaves the two sides offering different routes out of the deadlock, with neither having announced a governing agreement in the supplied coverage.

The next concrete test is whether the opposition's negotiations produce an agreement on Arab participation or support. Jabareen has offered cooperation, but the opposition's divisions remain unresolved, according to Top Stories and South China Morning Post.

The Knesset is scheduled to be sworn in on November 10, News18 reported. Coalition talks ahead of that date will show whether Tuesday's commitment to replace Netanyahu can become a workable governing arrangement.