Israel finds itself in a familiar state of political gridlock following this week’s inconclusive election, leaving Benjamin Netanyahu as a caretaker leader while the opposition seeks a path to power. The process now shifts to President Isaac Herzog, who will consult with party leaders to identify a candidate capable of securing a majority. If initial attempts at coalition-building fail, the Knesset will have a roughly 100-day window to reach a resolution before the country is forced into yet another round of national elections—an outcome Herzog is desperate to avoid.

Several scenarios remain on the table, though none are without significant obstacles. One possibility is a Netanyahu-led coalition involving centrist opposition parties, though this would require him to alienate his far-right base and convince rivals to break their core promise of ousting him. Alternatively, a bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot could attempt to form a government supported by Arab parties, a strategy complicated by the heightened social tensions following the October 7 attacks. Ultimately, Netanyahu may look to his reputation as a master political strategist to peel off members of the opposition, as he has done in the past, or both sides may be pushed toward a unity government should external security threats escalate.