Israelis turned out in their highest numbers in decades on Oct. 27 to elect a new government, but the results have left the country in a stalemate.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing bloc dropped precipitously, from 68 seats to 53, far short of the 61 needed for a Knesset majority. But the four opposition parties hoping to replace him are far from guaranteed to do so. They won 48 seats and would need the support of two predominantly Arab parties, which won a historic high of 19, to unseat Netanyahu’s government.

These opposition parties, led by former Israeli military chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot, now face a choice: They can form a government that relies on the votes of Arab and non-Zionist parties, which is particularly controversial since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack; they can form a unity government with Netanyahu, on the condition that he sheds some of his ultra-Orthodox and far-right partners; or they can force a rerun of the election in the spring.

Why Israel's deadlock matters here

While the machinations of Israeli government formation may seem too esoteric or irrelevant to matter to most Americans, they should. Extended political chaos in Israel, and the makeup of whatever government eventually emerges, will have a real impact on American interests and foreign policy – not only on the trajectory of the U.S.-Israel relationship but also........

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