Israel’s fourth election: the road ahead

The fourth Israeli election within two years following months of political crisis has resulted in another political stalemate after the vote on 23 March 2021 did not produce a conclusive result.

13 parties will serve in the 24th Israeli Knesset, ranging in size from Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud with 30 out of the 120 seats, the centrist party Yesh Atid led by Yair Lapid with 17 seats, and an array of parties each winning between five and nine seats.

It remains unclear whether it would possible to form a new coalition government and what would be its composition. Moreover, a fifth election is not beyond the realm of possibility and would mean a continuation of the country’s political crisis.

At this webinar, panellists discuss the domestic and international implications of the most recent general election in the context of changing regional dynamics and the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Would parties be able to form a new and stable coalition government and heal divisions within Israeli society?

• Can changes be expected in relations with the Palestinians?

• What are the implications for Israel’s foreign policy in the region in light of its bourgeoning ties with Gulf countries and the return of the Iran nuclear deal to the regional agenda?

• How might the relationship with the new US administration change and what would that mean for Israel’s approach to the Palestinians and the region?

The webinar will be livestreamed on the MENA Programme Facebook page.