Israeli political parties are facing a difficult decision after recent elections left both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his rivals without a clear mandate. Leaders must choose between holding firm to their campaign promises and enduring months of gridlock, or making significant concessions to form a government with former adversaries. While party leaders are currently vowing to stick to their commitments, the pressure to avoid a second round of voting is mounting.
President Isaac Herzog, who has the authority to nominate a candidate to form a government, is actively working to prevent another election. He has stated that he will do everything in his power to avoid returning to the polls, citing the economic cost of over one billion dollars and the potential for prolonged policy stagnation. Herzog has signaled support for a unity government that includes both pro- and anti-Netanyahu blocs if necessary.
Netanyahu’s Likud party remains the largest in the Knesset, but his coalition no longer holds a majority of the 120 seats. To stay in power, he must expand his coalition, a task complicated by the fact that rival factions promised their voters they would not join his government. One possible strategy for Netanyahu is to wait for a fresh election, as his coalition may gain support from voters who were disappointed by smaller right-wing parties that failed to cross the electoral threshold.
Conversely, the anti-Netanyahu bloc, led by Yashar party chief Gadi Eisenkot, also lacks a clear path to power. Although the majority of the next Knesset opposes the current prime minister, Eisenkot needs to secure 61 votes to form a government. His most viable option is a minority government supported by Arab parties Ra’am and the Joint List. However, this approach faces resistance from Yisrael Beytenu, which has stated it will not join a government backed by these parties.
Public calls for a national unity government have grown louder, with former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and other figures urging leaders to set aside egos. Eyal Eshel, whose daughter was killed in the 2023 Hamas attack, implored candidates to sit down together. Proponents argue that a unity deal would allow Israel to address stalled issues, such as extending military service to ultra-Orthodox communities, which have been difficult to pass due to coalition dependencies.
US President Donald Trump emerges as a potential catalyst for such a deal. With the midterms behind him, Trump has the political space to push for a resolution that stabilizes Israel and advances his Middle East agenda. Progress on the Abraham Accords and negotiations with Iran depend on a stable Israeli government. Trump has previously expressed a desire to work with Netanyahu to confront Iran, suggesting he may favor a power-sharing arrangement that keeps Netanyahu in office until 2028.
A Trump-brokered deal could involve Netanyahu leading the government for a set period, followed by Eisenkot, creating a transition that aligns with Herzog’s term ending in 2028. This scenario would allow the US president to enter his final two years with a familiar Israeli leader in place. While both sides would need to break campaign promises, they could cite the need to address Iran and the pressure from Washington as justification.
Although Trump has not yet indicated he will intervene directly, he is known for using unorthodox methods to achieve his goals. Such a move would be unprecedented and might upset Herzog, but it could provide a way out of a political impasse that Israel may struggle to resolve on its own. The potential for a unity government remains a subject of intense debate and speculation within Israeli political circles.
