Netanyahu Faces Major Political Setback as 67 Israeli Lawmakers Back Rival in Battle for Power
**JERUSALEM — November 7, 2026**
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing a major political challenge after a longtime religious ally refused to endorse him for another term, while his main opponent secured the backing of a majority of lawmakers in the country's deeply divided parliament.
The developments followed Israel's October 27 national election, which left no political bloc with a clear path to forming a government.
Former military chief Gadi Eisenkot received endorsements from 67 members of the 120-seat Knesset during consultations with President Isaac Herzog, compared with 46 lawmakers who supported Netanyahu.
Despite those numbers, Eisenkot has not secured a governing coalition, leaving the country's political future uncertain.
Herzog announced that he would choose a candidate on Sunday, November 8, to attempt to form a government.
## Netanyahu Loses Support From Longtime Religious Ally
One of the most important developments came Thursday, November 5, when the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party declined to recommend any candidate for prime minister.
The decision represented a significant setback for Netanyahu, whose Likud party has relied on alliances with religious parties during previous governments.
United Torah Judaism holds seven seats in parliament and has historically been part of Netanyahu's political coalition.
However, during consultations with Herzog, its representatives withheld their endorsement.
The party's decision followed instructions from its religious leadership not to recommend either Netanyahu or Eisenkot.
Although withholding support does not mean the party has permanently abandoned Netanyahu, the decision weakened his position at a critical stage of the government formation process.
It also demonstrated the difficulty the prime minister faces in rebuilding the parliamentary alliance that previously supported his administration.
## Netanyahu Wins Most Party Seats but Falls Short of Majority
The October 27 election produced a complicated parliamentary result.
Netanyahu's Likud emerged as the largest individual party, winning 27 seats in the 120-member Knesset.
His broader religious-nationalist alliance secured 53 seats, falling short of the 61 seats needed for a governing majority.
Eisenkot's four-party alliance, composed of Jewish-led parties spanning the political center-left to the right, won 48 seats.
Meanwhile, two Arab-led parties secured a combined 19 seats, an unprecedented result for parties representing Israel's Arab minority.
Those figures created a political situation in which neither main coalition entered negotiations with enough seats to govern alone.
The outcome also meant that parties outside the two principal blocs could influence which candidate received the opportunity to form a government.
For Netanyahu, the loss of his previous coalition majority marked a significant obstacle to extending his tenure.
For Eisenkot, the challenge is translating parliamentary endorsements into a coalition capable of governing.
## Eisenkot Receives Support From 67 Lawmakers
The political landscape shifted further Thursday when both Arab-led parties endorsed Eisenkot during consultations with President Herzog.
Those endorsements brought the number of lawmakers recommending Eisenkot to 67.
Netanyahu received endorsements from 46.
Although the figures appear to give Eisenkot a strong numerical advantage in the nomination process, they do not guarantee that he can establish a government.
Both Netanyahu and Eisenkot have ruled out forming a government with Israel's two Arab-led parties.
That creates a major complication for Eisenkot because some of the lawmakers recommending him are not necessarily willing or able to join his governing coalition.
Herzog acknowledged the difficulty, pointing to disagreements and vetoes within and between political blocs.
The president must decide which candidate has a realistic opportunity to assemble a parliamentary majority, rather than simply counting endorsements.
This distinction is central to understanding why Israel's political deadlock continues despite Eisenkot's larger number of recommendations.
## President Herzog Faces Crucial Decision on November 8
President Isaac Herzog has the constitutional responsibility to select a lawmaker to attempt to form a government following national elections.
After two days of consultations with political parties, Herzog announced that he would make his decision on Sunday, November 8.
He also planned further discussions with party leaders before choosing a candidate.
Once nominated, the selected politician will have 28 days to negotiate a governing coalition.
An additional 14-day extension may be granted, allowing up to 42 days for the initial attempt.
The process requires securing agreements among parties with different political priorities and competing demands.
If the selected candidate fails, additional efforts to form a government may follow under Israel's parliamentary procedures.
If no government can ultimately be established, another national election may become necessary.
Until a new coalition takes office, Netanyahu will continue serving as prime minister in a caretaker capacity.
The arrangement allows the existing government to continue functioning while coalition negotiations proceed.
## Netanyahu Challenges Election Results as Officials Reject Fraud Claims
The post-election negotiations have also been overshadowed by controversy surrounding the integrity of the October 27 vote.
Netanyahu has raised questions about the results following an investigation by election officials into possible vote tampering.
He accused Arab-led political parties of stealing votes.
Critics argued that Netanyahu and his political allies were attempting to undermine public confidence in the election outcome.
Netanyahu has denied that accusation.
Israel's Central Election Committee stated Wednesday that the integrity of the election had not been compromised.
Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, who heads the committee, also urged elected officials to protect public trust in democratic institutions.
Sohlberg warned about the dangers of undermining confidence in election results and emphasized the importance of peaceful transfers of power.
His remarks came amid growing political tension and competing claims about the vote.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a far-right Netanyahu ally, called for Arab party leaders to face arrest and questioning.
However, the allegations concerning election theft had not been substantiated by the committee's findings.
## Israel Faces Political Uncertainty Amid Regional Security Challenges
The government formation struggle comes during a difficult period for Israel and the wider Middle East.
The country faces continuing regional security concerns and diplomatic challenges that could influence negotiations among political parties.
Herzog has urged lawmakers to prioritize national responsibility and avoid another election.
His appeal reflects concerns that prolonged political instability could complicate decisions involving security, economic policy, and international relations.
The country's parliamentary system requires coalition building, making cooperation among parties essential when no single party holds a majority.
This election has produced an especially complicated set of negotiations because of disagreements within the major political blocs.
Netanyahu retains the largest individual party in parliament but no longer commands a clear governing majority.
Eisenkot has received broader support for the opportunity to form a government, yet faces significant obstacles in assembling a workable coalition.
The outcome will depend on negotiations rather than the parliamentary endorsement numbers alone.
## What Happens Next in Israel's Battle for Power?
The immediate focus is President Herzog's decision scheduled for Sunday, November 8.
His choice will determine which political leader receives the first formal opportunity to form Israel's next government.
Netanyahu remains in office as caretaker prime minister while the process continues.
Eisenkot, despite receiving endorsements from 67 lawmakers, must still overcome disagreements among parties that may be unwilling to govern together.
The refusal of United Torah Judaism to support Netanyahu has added another complication for the incumbent leader.
Neither candidate has announced a finalized coalition agreement.
For Israel, the coming negotiations could determine whether a new government emerges or the country faces another round of elections.
The October 27 vote has already altered the parliamentary balance, but it has not settled who will govern.
With the largest individual party on one side and more parliamentary endorsements on the other, Israel's political future now depends on whether its divided factions can reach an agreement.
