# Israel’s new Knesset opens as Eisenkot faces coalition talks

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/israels-new-parliament-sworn-in-as-leaders-compete-to-form-government/
- Published: 2026-11-10T17:03:16+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-11T04:51:00+00:00
- Original publisher: BBC World (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crd939lpzjp9o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: Government, Middle East, Politics, World

## Key points

- Eisenkot has been tasked with forming Israel’s next government.
- Neither main bloc has a Knesset majority.
- Arab-led parties’ record 19 seats could prove pivotal.

## Summary

Israel’s new parliament has been sworn in amid uncertainty over who will lead the next government. Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot has been asked to form a coalition after receiving more recommendations from MPs than caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but he must reconcile parties that disagree over potential partners and policy.

Eisenkot’s four-party bloc won 48 seats and Netanyahu’s bloc 53, short of the 61 needed for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. Arab-led parties won a record 19 seats and could hold the balance of power, though Netanyahu rejects governing with them and some of Eisenkot’s partners oppose their inclusion. Eisenkot has 28 days, with a possible two-week extension, to assemble a government; Netanyahu remains caretaker prime minister in the meantime.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.