As competition between political blocs continues ahead of Israel’s parliamentary elections scheduled for October 27, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused opposition leaders of planning to form a coalition with the support of Arab political parties.
In a post on the U.S.-based social media platform X, Netanyahu claimed that opposition parties aim to form a government after the election with the support of Arab parties. The prime minister described such a coalition as a “left-wing government.”
According to Netanyahu’s claim, Yashar Party leader Gadi Eisenkot will form a government after the election with Avigdor Lieberman, Yair Golan, Naftali Bennett and the Arab parties. Netanyahu argued that his own party, Likud, was the only political force capable of preventing the formation of such a government.
Opposition forms united front with five leaders
Netanyahu’s post came after five opposition leaders in Israel decided to work together against the current government.
Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid and former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett decided to run in the election on the “Together” list. Lapid said that the opposition leaders had met at his home.
Lapid’s post included a photograph from a meeting with Yashar Party leader Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett of the “Together” list, Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman and Democrats Party leader Yair Golan.
Lapid said the leaders had ideological differences but shared the goal of changing the government as a common priority. He said that the opposition leaders therefore needed to act together.
Neither bloc can reach a 61-seat majority
At least 61 lawmakers must support a government for it to be formed in Israel’s 120-seat parliament. Recent opinion polls show that neither the opposition nor the governing bloc led by Netanyahu can reach that number on its own.
According to polling projections, the opposition bloc is expected to win between 54 and 56 seats, while the governing bloc led by Netanyahu is expected to win between 50 and 52 seats.
Israel’s Central Elections Committee previously decided to bar parties representing Palestinians from taking part in the election. While the final decision is expected to be made by Israel’s Supreme Court, these parties are projected to win between 12 and 14 seats.
Artificial intelligence used to alter photograph
Netanyahu also posted another version of the group photograph showing the opposition leaders at the negotiating table, edited using artificial intelligence tools.
The edited photograph added Mansour Abbas, head of the United Arab List, and Ahmad al-Tibi, head of the Arab Change Front Alliance.
