Netanyahu Weakens in Israel Deadlock as Ultra-Orthodox Party Backs No One and Arab Party Endorses Eisenkot

Jerusalem, Israel. Benjamin Netanyahu’s chances of staying on as prime minister weakened on Thursday, when an ultra-Orthodox Jewish party refused to back any candidate and an Arab-led party threw its support behind his chief rival, Gadi Eisenkot. President Isaac Herzog was set to meet both men to decide whom to task with forming a government.

Deadlock after the October 27 vote

The election held on October 27 produced no clear winner. Neither Netanyahu nor Eisenkot, who is a former military chief, has a straightforward route to a parliamentary majority.

Related: Netanyahu Seeks Broad Coalition and Rules Out Arab Parties After Inconclusive Election

RelatedNetanyahu Seeks Broad Coalition and Rules Out Arab Parties After Inconclusive Election

Netanyahu did better than expected, and his Likud Party took the largest number of seats. However, his coalition of nationalist and religious parties no longer holds a majority needed to govern.

Setbacks for Netanyahu

United Torah Judaism, a long-standing coalition partner of Netanyahu and one of the two main parties representing ultra-Orthodox Jewish voters, chose not to recommend anyone to form a government.

Both Netanyahu and Eisenkot have so far excluded forming a government with Israel’s two Arab-led parties. Even so, one of those parties endorsed Eisenkot on Thursday, and the other was expected to follow later the same day.

The president’s role

Herzog holds a largely ceremonial post, but after an election he must choose the candidate he considers most likely to end the stalemate in a deeply divided country. He has until November 11 to make that decision.

He began meeting party representatives on Wednesday, after the official results were announced. On Thursday night he was due to hold separate meetings with Eisenkot and Netanyahu at his Jerusalem residence, concluding the consultations.

Herzog has urged the parties to make every effort to prevent another election.

Caretaker arrangement

Netanyahu stays on as prime minister in a caretaker government until a new coalition takes shape. If no candidate succeeds, another election must be held, and he would remain in that role until then.