Israel goes to the polls on October 27 with results forecast to be close, meaning that the next government will be determined by whoever can cobble together a coalition in a fragmented political landscape.
Israel votes through proportional representation based on the nationwide vote and it is highly unlikely that any single party would come even close to the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-seat parliament, or Knesset.
Here are four possible scenarios CoalitionImmediately after the election, the parties will begin negotiations to try to reach the 61-seat threshold.
After the official announcement of the results, President Isaac Herzog will consult with party representatives and name a candidate who has the chance to form a government — not necessarily the party with the most seats, but the one deemed best positioned to secure enough seats in parliament.
The negotiations can be arduous and lengthy, with parties insisting on parochial interests, and can produce unstable governments.
Following the previous election in November 2022, it took Benjamin Netanyahu 58 days to form his government.
Polls show that Netanyahu’s right-wing and far-right coalition and the opposition bloc, whose most prominent figure is former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, are neck and neck, with approximately 50 to 52 seats each.
The two sides have been nearly even in polls for weeks, foreshadowing a mathematical puzzle that both sides will have to solve to find the 10 or so seats needed for a coalition.