How could Benjamin Netanyahu stay in power after Israel's 2026 election, according to James Landale?

James Landale said Netanyahu's coalition should end up the larger bloc with around 53 seats, short of the 61 needed. President Isaac Herzog must first decide who has the best chance of forming a government. Netanyahu could try to peel parties away from the opposition into a unity government, possibly at the expense of his ultra-Orthodox allies. If no government forms, a new election follows and he remains caretaker prime minister in the meantime.

• Being the largest bloc does not automatically give a leader the first attempt at forming a government.
• Landale questioned whether Arab voters and Israelis abroad would turn out in the same numbers at a second election.

Source: our own transcription of the episode. The full conversation is on Global News Podcast (2026-10-29). Read the whole episode summary →

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