Hundreds rally in Tel Aviv for alternative government as Israel’s election leaves Netanyahu and opposition blocs short of majority

Hundreds of Israelis gathered at Habima Square in Tel Aviv on Saturday, calling for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to be replaced after parliamentary elections left neither his bloc nor the main opposition with a governing majority.

Demonstrators called for the formation of an alternative government based on political cooperation between Jewish opposition parties and Arab parties, with Arab citizens given equal representation and a role in shaping the country’s political future.

The protest comes as Israel faces a fragmented parliament following an election in which Netanyahu’s right-wing and religious bloc secured 53 seats, while the main opposition bloc won 48.

Arab parties hold the remaining 19 seats, leaving them potentially decisive in determining whether an alternative coalition can reach the 61 seats required for a majority in the 120-member Knesset.

Ahmad Tibi, leader of the Ta’al party, has said he is prepared to support an alternative government led by former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot from outside the coalition, without formally joining the government.

Such an arrangement could provide an opposition-led government with a parliamentary safety net, but would require cooperation among parties with significant political differences.

Netanyahu has meanwhile held talks with far-right leaders Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich as his bloc seeks to prevent opposition parties from assembling an alternative government with external Arab support.

Saturday’s demonstration reflected growing calls among Netanyahu’s opponents to use the election result to establish a government dependent on Jewish-Arab political cooperation rather than return the country immediately to another election.