Benjamin Netanyahu’s position in the post-election battle to stay on as Israel’s Prime Minister weakened on Thursday (November 5, 2026) after an ultra-Orthodox Jewish party withheld support for any nominee and an Arab-led party endorsed his main opponent.
Netanyahu and his chief political rival Gadi Eisenkot to decide which of the two men to pick to form a government, after holding consultations with smaller parties. Netanyahu nor Mr. Eisenkot, a former military chief, securing a clear path to a majority in Parliament. That has set up a tough task for President Isaac Herzog, whose mostly ceremonial role comes with the post-election responsibility of picking a candidate he believes has the best chance to break the deadlock in a deeply divided country. Mr. Mr. Netanyahu remains Prime Minister in a caretaker government until a new coalition is formed, or through another election which must be held if no candidate succeeds. And while Mr. Eisenkot, like Mr. Netanyahu, has so far ruled out forming a government with Israel’s two Arab-led parties, one of them endorsed Mr. Mr. Herzog has called on parties to do their utmost to avert another round of elections.
Israel’s October 27 election ended in deadlock with neither Mr. Herzog has until November 11 to decide. Earlier reporting noted: President Isaac Herzog was holding a second day of consultations with political parties after the October 27 election, in which neither Netanyahu — a polarising right-winger who has led Israel through three years of war — nor Eisenkot secured enough votes for a majority.
Israel’s President was due to meet Mr.
“Any reasonable person need only look at the security and diplomatic challenges before us, at the changing region around us, and remember the issues tearing us apart from within, to understand that an immense responsibility rests upon us,” Mr. Herzog said.
Earlier reporting noted: United Torah Judaism, which backed Netanyahu after the previous five elections, in its meeting with Herzog declined to recommend Netanyahu again as prime minister, although it also did not side with Eisenkot. In a setback for the Prime Minister on Thursday, United Torah Judaism, one of two major parties representing ultra-Orthodox Jewish voters and a longstanding Netanyahu coalition ally, declined to recommend any candidate to form a government. Eisenkot on Thursday and the other was expected to do so later in the day. Earlier reporting noted: Ultra-Orthodox party snubs Netanyahu, declines to back him as Israel PM; rival Eisenkot tipped to form government An ultra-Orthodox Jewish party long aligned with Benjamin Netanyahu declined on Thursday to recommend him to stay as Israel’s prime minister, as signs grew that rival Gadi Eisenkot will have the first chance to form a government.
