JERUSALEM — Middle East Desk

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Wednesday that a government dependent on Islamist parties would threaten Israel’s national security and deepen divisions within the country, as President Isaac Herzog prepares to decide who receives the first opportunity to form a governing coalition after the October 27 Knesset elections.

Writing on X, Netanyahu said such a government would be unable to confront radical Islam and could “tear us apart from within,” calling the contest “a matter of our very survival.”

He renewed his call for a broad national unity government led by Likud, bringing together his traditional right-wing allies and other Zionist parties willing to join. He accused opposition leaders of putting political ambition ahead of security by weighing a minority government dependent on parties he described as supporters of terrorism.

Election Results Leave Both Blocs Short of a Majority

The vote produced a deeply divided Knesset. Neither major bloc reached the 61 seats needed to govern, and the two Arab-led parties, which nearly doubled their representation, now sit in a potentially decisive position. Tap the buttons below to explore the 120-seat chamber.

Netanyahu’s bloc finished eight seats short. The opposition bloc led by former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, combined with the Arab parties, would total 67, but opposition leaders remain divided over whether to build a government that relies on Arab-party support.

“A matter of our very survival.”— Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on X

Herzog Begins Consultations

President Isaac Herzog received the certified results Wednesday and began consultations with the newly elected parties. The talks continue Thursday, and he is expected to make his first selection in the coming days, ahead of the November 11 deadline. Israel’s new Knesset is scheduled to convene November 10.

Herzog is not required to pick the leader of the largest party. He must choose the candidate with the best chance of forming a government that can win the Knesset’s confidence. That candidate receives 28 days to negotiate a coalition, with a possible 14-day extension. The deadlock leaves three paths open: a broad unity government, an opposition-led coalition backed by Arab parties, or fresh elections if talks fail.

Foreign-Interference Dispute Escalates

Netanyahu has demanded a full investigation into suspected foreign interference in the vote. Central Elections Committee Chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg has indicated that the available evidence does not undermine the certified results, and the committee said Wednesday that its review of records from 9,069 polling stations found no evidence that the vote’s integrity was compromised or that results were altered.

Separately, a growing confrontation between the Shin Bet and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has raised political tensions. Shin Bet Director David Zini reportedly sought authorization to interrogate four senior Arab politicians, including Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas, Ta’al chairman Ahmad Tibi and Balad leader Sami Abu Shehadeh, over allegations that foreign money was used to influence the election.

Baharav-Miara rejected requests to question three of them as suspects, saying investigators had not provided sufficient evidence. Likud accused her of obstructing the probe and concealing possible interference. On Wednesday the Shin Bet told the Central Elections Committee that intelligence pointed to a potentially widespread foreign influence operation involving thousands of individuals, adding that more investigative work was needed to establish its scope.

Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot accused Netanyahu and Likud of undermining democratic institutions in order to stay in power, warning that Israel is approaching a constitutional crisis.

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