Global Media Puzzled by Israeli Election Stalemate

International news outlets are struggling to comprehend the implications of Israel's recent election results and the subsequent governmental deadlock. Major publications like Der Spiegel, CNN, and The Times have highlighted the complexity of the situation, noting that while Netanyahu's Likud emerged as the largest party, it lacks a clear majority to form a government. The election has created a "very complicated" scenario with no obvious winner, according to German weekly Der Spiegel.

International coverage emphasizes the deep divisions within the Israeli electorate, suggesting a prolonged period before a prime minister can be chosen. The Wall Street Journal reported that the split electorate means "it may take a long time until the country chooses a prime minister." The New York Times observed that while the opposition's strength against Netanyahu is evident, "these elections do not provide a clear winner." The paper suggested that forming a unity government between right-wing and centrist parties might be the only way to avoid relying on Arab parties, though this presents challenges given potential objections from figures like Gadi Eisenkot and Netanyahu himself.

The Washington Post indicated that a clearer picture would only emerge after the full vote count, which could take days. In the UK, The Telegraph reported that the bloc led by Netanyahu was initially trailing behind Eisenkot's bloc, a surprising outcome given most polls. The paper suggested the possibility of repeat elections, noting that Netanyahu would remain Prime Minister with the power to initiate military action against Iran.

The Daily Mail expressed concerns about complex coalition negotiations and a prolonged political stalemate, drawing parallels to Israel's five elections between 2019 and 2022. The Guardian pointed to the large number of double envelopes (absentee ballots) as a factor adding to the uncertainty, as they would only be counted by Thursday.

Scandinavian news outlets have also closely followed the elections, with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the war in Gaza, and the situation in the West Bank being significant political issues in the region. Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet described "strange celebrations" at the Likud headquarters despite the party's win. Norwegian Aftenposten quoted an expert who deemed the future "impossible to predict."

Danish newspaper Berlingske quoted a correspondent who predicted an "ugly" political climate due to the opposition's refusal to sit with Netanyahu and internal divisions regarding potential partnerships with Arab parties. The paper suggested the Likud bloc would seek to portray the opposition as "traitors" if they formed a coalition involving Arab parties. International media have also sought to explain the pivotal role of Arab parties in forming a government, despite their general exclusion from Israeli coalitions and the concept of a "Zionist majority." ABC News noted the irony of Arab citizens potentially playing a kingmaker role despite their concerns being largely ignored during the campaign. Le Monde reported from Likud's celebration event, where Netanyahu reiterated his focus on the Iranian threat.