Elections 2026

Eisenkot gov't needs UTJ and Ra'am — Shemesh

Political correspondent Michael Shemesh sketches a 63-seat coalition for the Yashar leader, but admits the scenario is a bit thin and would require Bennett and Liberman to do Pilates

Jfeed Staff

OCT 30, 2026 14:54

1 min read

Channel 13's Michael Shemesh: Eisenkot's Most Realistic Government Relies on UTJ and Ra'am

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The opposition bloc's efforts to find a formula for forming a government after the 2026 elections continue to generate debate. Channel 13 political correspondent Michael Shemesh published an analysis on his X account on Friday, laying out the central scenario by which Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot could assemble a government, alongside the heavy political price and the flexibility required.

"Eisenkot's most 'realistic' government, in my view, is a 63-seat government that would rest on Ra'am and United Torah Judaism (possibly from outside as well)," Shemesh explained. "This would require a draft law and certain budgets for the Arab and chareidi sectors."

Shemesh adds that the feasibility of such a move is particularly low, especially given the concessions and agreements that would be required from Eisenkot's bloc partners: "This is of course a bit of a thin scenario. And it would require Liberman and Bennett to do Pilates."

Shemesh's remarks come against the backdrop of reports and rumors about contacts that opposition figures have held with the United Torah Judaism faction, a step that drew sharp criticism from Amit Segal, who described it as "a sophisticated exercise by the chareidim to build legitimacy."

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