Israel Must Embrace National Unity to Overcome Political Deadlock

Recent polling leaves little doubt that Israel is moving toward an unprecedented political deadlock. Current projections indicate that neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor Gadi Eisenkot is positioned to form a stable coalition commanding the 61-seat majority required in the Knesset.

Under current political conditions, forming a government appears untenable without the support of Arab parties—a prospect met with mutual boycotts and unlikely to yield a stable administration.

Israeli society now stands at a crossroads: it can either repeat the cycle of recurring political crises that fractured the nation and deepened internal divisions between 2019 and 2022, or make the courageous, pragmatic decision to establish a broad national unity government.

The Case for a National Unity Government

Israeli history shows that during national emergencies, a unity government is not an undesirable compromise but the most fitting response to pressing challenges. The clearest precedent is the 1984 national unity government formed by the Alignment under Shimon Peres and Likud under Yitzhak Shamir.

At the time, Israel’s economy teetered on collapse, with inflation soaring into the hundreds of percent. It was precisely this broad political partnership that enabled the implementation of a dramatic economic stabilization plan, rescuing the economy and steering the country toward safer waters. The strength of such unity lies in its capacity to make difficult, even painful, decisions while securing broad public legitimacy.

Beyond urgent economic and security concerns, Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas continue to pose serious—and in some cases existential—threats to the Jewish state.

A national unity government formed following the 2026 election would faithfully represent the mainstream of Israeli society. It would bring together the major Zionist parties while excluding extremist elements on both the right and the left—groups whose divisive rhetoric has fueled social fractures in recent years.

Moreover, such a moderate, balanced government—built on broad consensus across much of Israeli society—would be welcomed and highly regarded internationally. It would help restore Israel’s global standing and diplomatic relations at a critical juncture in world affairs.

Recent experience reinforces the conclusion that no viable alternative exists. Israel formed an emergency government during the global COVID-19 crisis, and again in the immediate aftermath of the national catastrophe of October 7.

The remarkable resilience of Israeli society, and the mobilization of hundreds of thousands of citizens on the front lines and at home, has demonstrated beyond doubt that the country’s strength lies in its unity.

The Challenges of a National Unity Government

Admittedly, this would be a complex undertaking, likely to generate friction and disagreement, as previous national unity governments in Israel’s political history clearly demonstrate. One episode often recalled is the so-called “dirty trick” orchestrated by the Labor Party under Peres in 1990 to bring down Shamir’s national unity government, amid claims that Likud was unwilling to advance the peace process.

Nor must we look far into the past: the collapse of the Netanyahu-Gantz government at the end of 2020 remains a fresh and painful memory. Yet given Israel’s current circumstances—grappling with a prolonged internal crisis alongside existential external threats—there appears to be no alternative.

In conclusion, the time has come to choose unity over division. Israel’s leaders must rise to the occasion, setting aside personal grievances and narrow political interests. This complex task falls to Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, who has repeatedly demonstrated that he is the right person to lead national reconciliation efforts.

Herzog must use the full weight of his public standing to help establish a stable national unity government. One can only hope that he will do so, and that Israeli democracy will choose partnership, healing, and unity for the sake of future generations. Whatever the election results may be, now is the time for national unity.

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