Netanyahu Holds Talks With Allies As Coalition Negotiations Begin
Neither camp secured a majority to govern alone, according to exit polls that triggered high-stakes coalition talks on October 30, 2026, as reported by The Jerusalem Post.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened meetings with Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir. Rival opposition figures simultaneously launched separate negotiations to assemble an alternative governing coalition.
Netanyahu Convenes Right-Wing Allies as Opposition Moves
Prime Minister Netanyahu met with Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir on October 30 to coordinate the right-wing bloc’s next moves. Opposition leaders initiated parallel discussions at the same time to test whether an alternative coalition could be formed.
Complicating the opposition’s math, Shas’s Deri ruled out joining opposition bloc government without Likud. Meanwhile, United Torah Judaism (UTJ) weighed talks.
Liberman Rejects Arab Factions and Urges Likud Revolt
Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman adopted a hardline stance against joining any coalition dependent on Arab-led factions. He cut off contact with anti-Netanyahu bloc leaders following the election, Channel 12 News reported.
Liberman reiterated his refusal on Facebook, writing that his party will not sit with "supporters of terrorism." He pointed specifically to Joint List MK Ofer Cassif for supporting South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice, Ra’am MK Yasser Hujirat for declining to label Hamas a terrorist organization, and Joint List MK Osama Saadi for singing the Palestinian national anthem on election night.
Liberman Urges Likud Rebellion as Exit Polls Show Volatility
Liberman spoke at his party headquarters after a 90-minute delay following the release of exit polls. He issued a direct call for a rebellion within Likud, urging party members to turn against Netanyahu.
Kan 11, Channel 12, and Channel 13 exit polls indicated a slight advantage for the bloc seeking to unseat Netanyahu, but the arithmetic remains volatile. Liberman reported receiving dozens of calls from Likud members. He added that double-envelope votes would likely reduce the relative strength of Arab and ultra-Orthodox parties.
Awaiting Friday Certified Results
Opposition figures continue to weigh potential partnerships. However, Liberman’s refusal to rely on Ra’am or the Joint List leaves the anti-Netanyahu camp short of a clear parliamentary path.
Final certified election results are expected to be released early Friday morning.