64 Seats: Opposition Holds Majority But Netanyahu Seeks Path to Remain

The Israeli opposition now controls a majority of 64 seats in the Knesset, but a widely held pledge not to govern with Palestinian-led parties may allow Benjamin Netanyahu to retain power. As of Wednesday, October 28, this coalition math offers the prime minister a route to stay in office or serve as a long-term caretaker, potentially leading to another election.

Netanyahu’s far-right coalition lost its mandate in the recent vote. His camp shed approximately 10 seats from the 64-seat bloc it formed in 2022. Despite this loss, Netanyahu claimed vindication, stating the right-wing bloc holds a clear and decisive majority among the Zionist public. He called for a strong national-right government, noting that the Knesset and young Israelis have moved further right.

Jewish opposition leaders have largely promised to avoid governing alongside Palestinian-led groups. Yair Golan, leader of the center-left Democrats, rejected the idea that the opposition lacks a path to power. He stated, “Netanyahu lost. I know how to count,” and urged the formation of a government with Palestinian citizens. They make up about 20% of Israel’s population. Golan argued that Israelis should stop accepting the division between Jewish and Arab votes.

Public sentiment among opposition voters appears different from their leaders’ positions. Eran Halperin, a political psychology researcher, cited a survey taken as polls closed. The data showed a clear majority of opposition voters supported forming a government with the Palestinian-led Raam party to remove Netanyahu. Opposition leaders were silent on Wednesday, weighing their desire to unseat Netanyahu against their prior promises.

Gadi Eisenkot, who leads the largest opposition party, has not directly ruled out a partnership with Palestinian parties. However, he set conditions that make such an alliance politically difficult for those groups to accept. In contrast, Yousef Jabareen, head of the Joint List, said his party was ready and prepared to pave the way for ousting the Netanyahu government. He added that the change comes through Jewish-Arab partnership.

Raam, an Islamist party, placed a Jewish former police chief in second position on its slate. This move signaled its commitment to working with Jewish Israelis. An earlier precedent exists where Yitzhak Rabin relied on Palestinian support for a minority government three decades ago, though that history receives little attention in current debates.

The election campaign featured Netanyahu’s slogan, “The right or Palestine,” which cast the fifth of the population who are Palestinian as an enemy within the state. Many Israelis viewed the vote as existential, citing concerns about democratic erosion and the push for a State Commission of Inquiry into the 7 October attacks. Palestinian citizens, facing rising crime, discrimination, and home demolitions, turned out in record numbers.

Israel describes itself as a Jewish and democratic state. If Palestinian representatives are kept out of government due to ethnicity, the choice between a Jewish future and a democratic one may become sharper. The opposition faces a decision on whether to break its pledge to remove Netanyahu or hold its line against partnering with Palestinian-led parties.