# Netanyahu Faces Potential Political End After Recent Electoral Defeats Israel's longest-serving leader loses parliamentary majority amid shifting US political support. - **Source:** [Arab News](https://www.arabnews.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-10 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/e51266d7-0694-4b15-a303-ebc224149b03 ## Electoral Setback in Knesset Benjamin Netanyahu faces a critical juncture as his political bloc secured only 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset. This loss of a parliamentary majority leaves him without a realistic path to form a government. Consequently, President Isaac Herzog has granted the mandate to former general Gadi Eisenkot to assemble a new coalition. ## US Policy and Aid The political landscape shifted significantly following the US midterm elections, where the Republican Party suffered major losses. President Donald Trump announced the termination of $4 billion in annual aid to Israel starting in 2027. US officials have expressed frustration, blaming Netanyahu for influencing Trump’s aggressive military stance against Iran during his term. ## The Mandate for Change Gadi Eisenkot now has 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension, to form a government. His primary objective is uniting factions that share little common ground beyond the necessity of removing Netanyahu. If successful, this transition would strip Netanyahu of his premiership and potentially expose him to an independent inquiry regarding October 7. ## Legacy of Right-Wing Alliances Netanyahu’s 2022 coalition brought far-right figures like Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich into central government roles. These leaders oversaw significant expansion in settlement construction and financial restrictions on the Palestinian Authority. Peace Now reported that plans for nearly 28,000 housing units advanced in 2025, marking a substantial increase over previous annual records. ## Regional Vision and Strategy Netanyahu has long promoted a vision of a 'new Middle East' defined by Israeli military superiority rather than regional collaboration. By framing Iran and a perceived 'radical Sunni axis' led by Turkiye as existential threats, he maintained a permanent state of emergency. This strategy aimed to make his leadership indispensable for national security. ## Shifting Political DNA Over three decades, Netanyahu has fundamentally altered Israel’s political landscape, effectively marginalizing the left and shifting the center further to the right. Most current parties oppose a Palestinian state and support permanent security control over the West Bank and Gaza. This ideological transformation complicates the efforts of any successor government to reform. ## The Risk of Accountability Netanyahu’s potential removal poses significant legal and political risks, particularly concerning the security failures of October 7. Without the leverage of the premiership, he faces the prospect of an independent investigation into his administration. His attempts to discredit election results by blaming Palestinian-led parties were rejected by Israel’s official election commission. ## Future of Israeli Leadership At 77, Netanyahu faces a weary electorate and a Washington administration seeking distance from his policies. While he has survived numerous political crises throughout his career, the current combination of domestic parliamentary isolation and international pressure suggests his era may be concluding. The coming weeks will determine if he can survive this challenge. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.arabnews.com/opinion/this-time-netanyahus-political-demise-may-be-real-3010870 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._