Acting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party came first in the third snap elections held in less than one year . It took 36 seats in the 120-member Knesset, taking three seats more than the Blue and White coalition (led by former army chief Benny Gantz). The Joint List (led by Mr. Ayman Odeh, comprising Arab-majority parties) remained the third largest party with 15 seats, up from 13. On 26 March, the new legislature elected Mr. Gantz as its new Speaker.

As was the case in the two previous snap elections in 2019 (following which, no government had been formed), lengthy coalition talks followed. Neither Mr. Netanyahu (seeking a record fifth term in office) nor Mr. Gantz managed to form governing coalitions and President Reuven Rivlin refused to give additional time for the coalition talks. Although Mr. Gantz initially refused to join the government led by Mr. Netanyahu due to the criminal charges brought against the latter , the COVID-19 pandemic subsequently pushed the two largest forces to form a unity government, which was sworn in on 17 May (see note 1). Mr. Netanyahu will serve as Prime Minister for the first 18 months and Mr. Gantz will serve out the remainder (see note 2). The major electoral issues included the annexation of a part of the occupied West Bank, in particular, the Jordan Valley .

Note 1:
Before the formation of the new government, 16 members, including former Finance Minister Yair Lapid, left the Blue and White coalition in protest against the coalition’s deal with Likud and formed a new faction (Yesh Atid-Telem) in the Knesset. Two members left the new faction and formed Derech Eretz (The Way of the Land) which in turn joined the unity government.

Note 2:
On 15 May, Mr. Gantz resigned as Speaker ahead of his appointment as Alternate Prime Minister . On 17 May, the Knesset elected Mr. Yariv Levin (Likud) as Speaker.