The Israeli PM has managed to build a single-seat majority, but it could come at a high cost, both at home and abroad

The Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, has assembled a rightwing coalition government with the slimmest possible of majorities, narrowly beating a midnight deadline to complete negotiations.



The agreement on a new coalition government – made possible after Netanyahu struck a deal with far-right party Jewish Home, led by Naftali Bennett – appears to set the scene for a period of unstable government, as well as for new difficulties for Israel on the international stage.

The influence of the hardline Bennett, whose political base is the rightwing national religious constituency, raises scant prospect of a return to peace negotiations with the Palestinians, even at a time when Israel is under mounting international pressure.

That includes moves by France to draft a fresh UN security council resolution calling for the establishment of a Palestinian state and growing frustration with Israel in both the EU and within the Obama administration in the US.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Naftali Bennett and Binyamin Netanyahu attending a voting at the Knesset. Photograph: Abir Sultan/EPA

Jewish Home seems certain to push for the expansion of Jewish settlements in occupied territory, a policy that could deepen Israel’s rift over the issue with the US, its main ally, and the EU.

Bennett has also called for the annexation of parts of the West Bank, which goes beyond Netanyahu’s pledge to continue to build settlements only in areas Israel intends to keep in any future peace deal with the Palestinians.



With a majority of one seat in the 120-seat Israeli Knesset, the new government comprises Netanyahu’s rightwing Likud, the new centre-right Kulanu party led by Moshe Kahlon, and the ultra-orthodox Shas and United Torah Judaism, in addition to the pro-settler Jewish Home.

While Netanyahu – whose party won 30 seats in March elections – had been expected to form a right-leaning government easily, the withdrawal of Avigdor Lieberman and his Yisrael Beiteinu party on Monday plunged the talks into chaos and left Netanyahu with a government many pundits suspect will struggle to survive.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Avigdor Lieberman plunged coalition plans into chaos. Photograph: Jini/Jini/Xinhua Press/Corbis

Netanyahu’s best bet to ensure his new coalition’s survival, analysts believe, will be if he can persuade the opposition leader Isaac Herzog to join his government further down the line, perhaps in the role of foreign minister.

Announcing the new government, Netanyahu hinted heavily at this prospect. “I said that 61 is a good number and 61 plus is even better,” he said, “Time is short because we have to form a strong and stable government by next week.”

Opposition figures and analysts criticised Netanyahu for his handling of the negotiations, they said had produced an unstable government doomed to collapse.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Analysts think recruiting Isaac Herzog could be the government’s best chance of survival. Photograph: Nir Elias/Reuters

Writing on Facebook, Herzog – whose Zionist Union was defeated by Netanyahu in March – said the new coalition was a “national failure government” and predicted it would be “irresponsible, unstable and unable to govern”.

Critics have accused Netanyahu of agreeing to onerous conditions from his new partners. These included promises to reverse legislation cutting state subsidies to the ultra-Orthodox, soften measures designed to encourage them to undertake mandatory military service, and hand Jewish Home the justice ministry.

Equally serious is the perception that Netanyahu will be held hostage to party and individual interests and will struggle to push through legislation.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Moshe Kahlon, head of new centre-right party Kulanu, waves to supporters at party headquarters in Tel Aviv. Photograph: Stringer/Israel/Reuters

Although previous prime ministers have managed to govern with such a slight majority, the assessment is that Netanyahu lacks the personal and political skills to hold such a coalition together.

Writing in Yedioth Ahronoth, commentator Eitan Haber said: “A 61-seat government is hell for members of the coalition and primarily so for the person who shoulders the responsibilities of coalition chairman … The coalition chairman is going to have to be a magician and a contortionist to maintain a permanent majority in the plenum.

“And those are only the smaller problems. An overtly rightwing government, such as the one that is going to be sworn in next week, will have to fight nearly the entire world diplomatically.”