Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to form a government with opposition leader Geddy Eisenkot. However, he has publicly denied any such plans. According to Israeli media i24 News, leaders close to Netanyahu’s party Likud said the prime minister was considering all options. According to sources, Netanyahu fears that Eisenkot could form a government together with Arab parties and ultra-religious Jewish groups.
Netanyahu’s coalition did not get a majority in parliamentary elections held on October 27. Netanyahu’s allies won 53 seats in Israel’s 120-member Knesset (Parliament). They had 68 seats in the last parliament. At the same time, the opposition coalition led by Eisencott won 48 seats and the Arab parties 19. The combined seats of the opposition and Arab parties are enough for a majority. However, no consensus could be reached between them regarding the formation of the government.
What did Netanyahu say on the Arab parties?
Netanyahu has said that Isenkot forming a government with Arab parties would amount to treason. Opposition leaders have criticized this. They allege that Netanyahu wants to stop the formation of another government. Several dozen people gathered outside Eisecoat’s home on Sunday to protest the prospect of a coalition with Arab parties. At the same time, in some other demonstrations in recent days, demands were also raised for the Jewish and Arab parties to form a government together.
Questions were raised on the election results
Amid talks to form a government, Netanyahu’s Likud party raised questions about the election process. However, the party has not provided any evidence to prove that the election results were influenced. Likud has cited cases of attempts to buy votes. Three political activists were arrested with envelopes full of cash before polling began on October 27. Two days later, four more people were arrested for alleged links to the Islamic party Ra’am.
However, 2 of the three people arrested earlier have been released. Israel’s security agency Shin Bet is also investigating suspected foreign interference in the election. Noam Solberg, the head of the Election Commission, said that even if the allegations of foreign interference in the election are proven true, the results of the election will not change. This will not raise questions on the credibility of the entire electoral process.
Eisenkot accuses Netanyahu
Eisenkot accused Netanyahu of running a campaign to falsify the election results. Netanyahu claimed that Qatar was helping opposition parties. Qatar has denied giving money to influence elections.
The election results are expected to be officially approved on November 4. On the same day, President Isaac Herzog will speak to elected party leaders. After this, they will give a chance to any one leader to form the government till November 11. That leader has to get support from other parties for majority. A time of 28 days will be given for this, if he fails then the President can give a chance to another leader. If no coalition is formed, there could be another election in Israel.
