Netanyahu Breaks Coalition Contact After Election, Weighs Options

Following the Knesset elections, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has departed from his usual practice of contacting coalition party leaders, a move that may signal a strategic shift. Preliminary results indicate Netanyahu's Likud party secured the most votes, providing him a strong basis for forming a new government. However, the Prime Minister has yet to comment on the prospects for his bloc, which comprises right-wing and ultra-Orthodox parties.

Netanyahu did not call coalition partners on election night or the following morning, instead focusing on analyzing the results and planning his next steps. On the night of October 28, he offered only general assurances of their involvement in post-election processes. This break from tradition could be an effort to maintain flexibility in government formation negotiations and to prevent the "Block of Change" from gaining leverage in the Knesset.

Simultaneously, Netanyahu is reportedly exploring avenues to negotiate with Avigdor Lieberman and Naftali Bennett, potentially to avert further elections. Current assessments suggest Lieberman and Bennett might be unwilling to join a coalition with Netanyahu, though public demand for a national unity government could influence their stance.

In the coming days, Netanyahu's representatives are expected to gauge the potential for cooperation with the "Block of Change." The Prime Minister may also initiate a campaign against the opposition and its alliances with Arab parties, aiming to divide the opposition and attract individual lawmakers to his side. Earlier reports indicated Netanyahu might also consider resuming talks with Mansour Abbas, leader of Ra'am, if it aids his government formation efforts.