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Netanyahu may fall, but his far-right legacy in Israel is going nowhere
Confirmed
In Short: Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc fell short of a majority in Israel's closely contested election, leaving his political future uncertain.
Netanyahu called for a 'strong right-wing national government', while Eisenkot declared the public had 'spoken in favour of change', as initial exit polls projected the results.
As head of the right-wing Likud party, Netanyahu has been the face of Israel for the past 12 years, as well as during his earlier stint as prime minister from 1996–99, noted The Conversation.
Humanitarian concerns in Gaza were largely ignored during the election campaign, with both Netanyahu and Eisenkot vowing to end Hamas rule, reported The Guardian.
With a week to go before the election, Netanyahu was seen treading lightly on settler attacks to avoid alienating political allies, as reported by the Timesofisrael.
Protests against Netanyahu's government gathered thousands in Tel Aviv, demanding an independent inquiry into the security failures that led to the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met Netanyahu during an unannounced visit to Israel, amid discussions about potentially resuming major combat operations against Iran, Axios reported.
What this adds
Neither Netanyahu nor Eisenkot secured a clear majority, leaving the political future uncertain.
Netanyahu's coalition includes far-right parties, which have secured several important cabinet positions.
The meeting between Hegseth and Netanyahu suggests ongoing strategic discussions between the US and Israel.
Background
President Isaac Herzog has given opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot 28 days to form a new government in Israel, following an inconclusive election that left neither Netanyahu nor Eisenkot with a clear parliamentary majority.
What's confirmed
- Thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday to protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and demand an independent inquiry into the security failures that led to the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023.
What's still developing
- Netanyahu formed a coalition government with Ben-Gvir’s far-right Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) and Smotrich’s Religious Zionist Party in 2022, giving both several of Israel’s most important cabinet positions.
- Humanitarian catastrophe largely ignored as rivals Gadi Eisenkot and Benjamin Netanyahu vow to end Hamas rule Humanitarian catastrophe largely ignored as rivals Gadi Eisenkot and Benjamin Netanyahu vow to end Hamas rule As Israel prepares to go to the polls, Palestinians in Gaza are bracing for an outcome that could shape their future, knowing their fate rests with the country that has reduced much of the territory to rubble and killed nearly 75,000 people.
- Netanyahu’s chief rival, Gadi Eisenkot, attended the rally that was an echo of the weekly ones once held to call for the release of hostages taken into Gaza.
- The flight was carrying at least 150 people, with Netanyahu saying "almost all" passengers were Israeli.
- The visit came eight days before Israel's October 27 parliamentary elections.