Netanyahu faces new election risk as 59 seats could open path to rival government – opinion

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a significant political risk if his right-wing bloc secures fewer than 61 seats in the upcoming election, according to assessments from his inner circle. A scenario where the bloc wins 59 seats could enable the opposing camp to form an alternative government, even with external support or abstention from Arab parties, without them formally joining the coalition. This differs from past elections where Netanyahu could remain transitional prime minister without a solid majority due to the opposition's inability to unite. Netanyahu is reportedly keen to avoid military conscription becoming a central election issue, as it creates internal divisions within his bloc. Instead, he prefers debates on ideological divides like Right versus Left or attitudes toward Arab parties. The 61-seat threshold is crucial for Netanyahu, not just to form a government, but also to prevent his rivals from establishing an alternative, potentially temporary, governing framework to remove him from office.