Netanyahu weighs post-election options as his party struggles

TEL AVIV

Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at a state memorial in Jerusalem.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior officials from his party Likud consider scenarios for the aftermath of the Oct. 27 general elections, amid growing concerns that the party could lose significant support, Israeli media reports have said.

Netanyahu reportedly acknowledged in closed-door talks that Likud would lose the election “unless something changes,” according to Israel’s public broadcaster KAN.

He also admitted that the party had lost around 10 seats and said he did not know how to win them back.

The remarks reflect growing skepticism within Likud over opinion polls that have shown the party performing better than some recent surveys suggest. A Channel 13 poll released on Aug. 26 put Likud at 19 seats, down from 23 in the previous survey, while Yashar, led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, was projected to win 24 seats.

Eisenkot also led Netanyahu in voter preference for prime minister, with 46 percent support compared with 35 percent for Netanyahu.

Against this backdrop, Likud officials are examining the possibility of a broad unity government if neither bloc can form a coalition.

One scenario under discussion involves a rotation agreement between Netanyahu and Eisenkot, with Netanyahu serving first before eventually handing the premiership to Eisenkot, Jerusalem Post said.

One idea reportedly being discussed in closed Likud circles is to offer Netanyahu a future path to the presidency after his term as prime minister, potentially creating both an agreed political exit for him and a guarantee that the premiership would eventually pass to Eisenkot.

The presidential option remains far from a finalized plan, with some Likud officials describing it as a remote possibility.

The general elections are scheduled for Oct. 27 and are seen as crucial to Netanyahu’s political future as he faces accusations of corruption, authoritarianism and failure.

Netanyahu, 76, has headed what is described as the most right-wing government in Israel’s history since late December 2022.

He is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes that have been committed in the Gaza Strip since Israel’s deadly war on the enclave since October 2023.