Overall, the anti-Netanyahu parties have secured 67 mandates. So why isn’t a change government being formed? Well, 19 of those seats belong to the Arab parties — Ra’am, led by Mansour Abbas, and the Joint List, the more extreme amalgam of anti-Zionist groups. Many opposition leaders, like Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Lieberman pledged during their campaigns not to sit in government with either of these parties, leaving the blocs at a standstill. On today’s episode of Waiting for 61, Ami and Ruth discussed why it is considered so problematic to form a government with the Arab Parties and what the opposition’s options are going forward.
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What does it take to win an election in Israel? And what happens after the votes are counted?
Waiting for 61, JTA’s Israel election podcast, is your guide to the personalities, power struggles, and political calculations shaping Israel’s future. Whether you're a seasoned observer of Israeli politics or just trying to understand how it all works, we'll take you beyond the headlines to explore what's driving the election, why it matters, and what it could mean for Israel and the wider world.
Send questions to our hosts: waitingfor61@jta.org
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CREDITS:
CO-HOST: Ami Eden
CO-HOST: Ruth Eglash
PRODUCER: Maya Rackoff