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Netanyahu, Benjamin

Netanyahu's Government on Shaky Ground as Ceasefire Uncertainty Looms

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

With his government now holding a mere 60 out of 120 seats in parliament after the ultra-Orthodox party quit in July, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing unprecedented challenges in maintaining his coalition, even as he seeks to navigate a fragile ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza. Despite his allies' initial outrage over the US-brokered agreement, Netanyahu has agreed to the ceasefire, which went into effect on October 10, but faces mounting pressure from far-right factions within his own government, who demand a harder line against Hamas and partial annexation of the occupied West Bank.

Key Takeaways:

  • Netanyahu's government holds 60 seats in parliament, down from the majority it had after the ultra-Orthodox party quit in July.
  • The ceasefire with Hamas has weakened Netanyahu's coalition, with his far-right allies demanding a harder line against the Palestinian Islamist movement.
  • Netanyahu faces pressure from his allies in the ultra-Orthodox Sephardic Shas party, which has distanced itself from the government, over the issue of military service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jews.
  • National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has threatened to stop voting with the coalition if his bill calling for “the death penalty for terrorists” is not put to a parliamentary vote by November 9.
  • Netanyahu must navigate ideological differences from his far-right partners, who favor resuming the war in Gaza to take over the territory, from which Israel unilaterally withdrew in 2005.
  • The fragile ceasefire and potential threats to the government may force Netanyahu to call early elections or be forced into a fresh vote by late October 2026.

Statistics:

  • 60: the number of seats Netanyahu's government holds in parliament.
  • 120: the total number of seats in the Israeli parliament.
  • 11: the number of lawmakers in the ultra-Orthodox Sephardic Shas party.
  • 2 years: the duration of the war in Gaza before the ceasefire came into effect.
  • 2005: the year Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza.

Sources:

  • Michael Horowitz, independent analyst (cited in the article)
  • AFP
  • Amit Segal, Israeli journalist (cited in the article)

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