Israel’s political deadlock leaves Netanyahu’s future hanging in the balance

Results from Israel’s October 27 election are due to be certified on Wednesday, but neither bloc has the 61 seats needed for a Knesset majority. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition won 53 seats, compared with 48 for the opposition alliance led by former army chief Gadi Eisenkot; the two Arab-led lists took the remaining 19. Despite their historic showing, the Arab parties remain politically isolated, and their possible support for an Eisenkot-led government is divisive within an already fractious opposition. Netanyahu’s camp has also been accused of trying to discredit the vote with claims of foreign interference in the Arab parties’ results.