Netanyahu meets Ben Gvir and Smotrich as opposition explores minority-government route after inconclusive Israeli election

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met separately with far-right leaders Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich late Thursday as his bloc moved to prevent the opposition from assembling a minority government after this week’s inconclusive election.

According to Israel’s Channel 12, the meetings were aimed at keeping Netanyahu’s right-wing camp united and blocking a possible “change bloc” government that could rely on outside support from ultra-Orthodox or Arab parties.

Ben Gvir said after the meeting that he had held extensive talks with Netanyahu about preserving a right-wing government and preventing what he described as a left-wing government supported by “terrorism supporters.”

The talks came as opposition parties intensified efforts to find a governing formula. Channel 12 reported that figures in United Torah Judaism had floated the possibility of supporting a minority government led by Gadi Eisenkot from outside the coalition, while Ra’am could also provide outside backing.

Final election results left Netanyahu’s bloc with 53 seats, Eisenkot’s opposition bloc with 48 and Arab-led parties with 19 in the 120-seat Knesset. Neither side has the 61 seats needed for a majority.

President Isaac Herzog is expected to begin consultations after the results are certified and then assign one lawmaker the task of trying to form a government.