To the Point
Is "Bibi" on the Ropes in Israel?
Israel's parliament, called the Knesset, has 120 seats. In Tuesday's election, neither of the two major political parties is expected to win more than 25. That means there won't be a new government until Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud or Isaac Herzog's Zionist Union assembles a coalition big enough to constitute a majority.
By Warren Olney • • 1 min readIsrael's parliament, called the Knesset, has 120 seats. In Tuesday's election, neither of the two major political parties is expected to win more than 25. That means there won't be a new government until Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud or Isaac Herzog's Zionist Union assembles a coalition big enough to constitute a majority. Recent polls show Netanyahu's in trouble.
If Republicans on Capitol Hill could decide Tuesday's election, Netanyahu would get a record fourth term as Prime Minister. Israeli voters may have other ideas. The latest polls show his conservative Likud Party lagging behind the center-left Zionist Union. But forming a government means assembling a coalition in Israel's parliament of many parties — so nothing is certain. Adding to this year's drama, Israeli Arabs may win enough seats to make a difference.
