Israel’s provisional election count left both major political blocs short of a Knesset majority, as former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met former military chief Gadi Eisenkot Thursday, Oct. 29.
Ynet reported that Bennett hosted Eisenkot at his home in Ra’anana. A joint statement said the two discussed “ways to form a good government in Israel as quickly as possible.”
The Central Elections Committee’s provisional count showed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc with 53 seats, opposition parties with 48 and Arab parties with 19 in the 120-seat Knesset. A majority requires 61 seats, leaving each of the main blocs short in the provisional tally.
The meeting followed the Sept. 26 pact among five opposition leaders. The agreement set up joint campaign work on turnout, policy and media coordination, while stopping short of naming a prospective prime minister.
Ynet reported that official results were due Nov. 4.
