Israel election deadlock: Four possible paths to a new government

Israel’s election this week was indecisive and there is no clear winner poised to form a government. Benjamin Netanyahu remains in office as caretaker prime minister, but faces a parliament stacked with an opposition majority vying to oust him. Here are some scenarios that could follow: Could Israel face another election? After the formal final election results are published next week, Israel’s President Isaac Herzog begins consultations with party representatives and then taps the candidate whom he deems to have the best chance to form a government. If the candidate fails, another can try and if that candidate fails, the Knesset can nominate another. There is a deadline for the process of around 100 days. If no one succeeds, another election is held.

Herzog said on Wednesday that everything must be done to avoid another election and urged the parties to come with an open mind to the consultations with him. Could Netanyahu form a unity government? Netanyahu’s Likud party, emerging as the largest in the Knesset, forms a coalition that would likely include centrist and right-wing opposition parties such as Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar, the second-largest party, Avigdor Lieberman’s Israel Our Home and Naftali Bennett’s Together faction. That grouping would secure 66 seats, a majority in the 120-seat parliament. However, this option appears remote at this point because it would mean Netanyahu would likely have to abandon his natural political allies, the far-right and ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties. Further, the opposition parties would have to break their main election pledge to their voters: unseating Netanyahu. Still, if neither camp is able to form a government at the end of weeks of protracted negotiations, a unity government may emerge as a last option. Renewed fighting…