Netanyahu Faces Ouster If Right-Wing Bloc Falls Short of 61 Seats

Columnist Mati Tuchfeld suggests that if the right-wing bloc fails to secure 61 Knesset seats, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could face removal from office. In such a scenario, opposition parties might seek to replace the current Speaker of the Knesset, Amir Ohana, and advance legislation that would prevent an indicted individual from serving as prime minister. Tuchfeld outlines potential political maneuvers, including cooperation with Arab parties, to achieve these goals.

One proposed scenario involves forming a stable government, potentially relying on parties like Ra'am or even the Joint List, to resolve internal leadership disputes and hope for the Likud party's fragmentation. This could lead to Netanyahu's departure if laws barring indicted individuals from office are passed and upheld by the High Court of Justice.

A more pessimistic outlook suggests that if the election results prevent a stable government, all parties might agree in advance on a mutually acceptable date for new elections. In this case, a government would be sworn in solely to depose Netanyahu and serve as a transitional administration from its inception.

Tuchfeld posits that without 61 seats, Netanyahu would have limited ability to prevent his replacement, and potentially his permanent removal from politics. He contrasts the current situation, where recent polls indicate a potential deadlock leading to repeated elections, with Netanyahu's preferred outcome of a stable government, suggesting the former is a "nightmare scenario" for the Prime Minister.