Israel’s election may be over, but the real political battle is only beginning. With no bloc securing a parliamentary majority, President Isaac Herzog is now meeting party leaders one by one before deciding who will receive the mandate to try to form Israel’s next government. Against the backdrop of the Gaza war, regional tensions with Iran and Lebanon, and deep divisions over Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership, the vote has left the country facing another period of political uncertainty and complex coalition bargaining.
In this episode of The Language of Power, host Paul Taylor is joined by Mairav Zonszein of the International Crisis Group and Nimrod Goren of Mitvim to unpack the election results and their implications for Israel, the Middle East and Europe. They discuss the role of Arab parties as potential kingmakers, President Herzog’s pivotal role in government formation, the future of Israel’s regional diplomacy, and whether the election outcome has further dimmed prospects for a two-state solution. As coalition negotiations begin and the next government hangs in the balance, the election may be settled, but Israel’s future remains anything but certain.
