When the final votes are counted, I expect Likud to outperform the polls. Nevertheless, I anticipate that neither political bloc will secure the 61 seats needed to form a governing majority. The spotlight will then shift to President Isaac Herzog, who will decide whether to give Netanyahu or Eisenkot the first opportunity to form a coalition. The chosen candidate will have 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension, to assemble a government. Eisenkot appears to have a potential path to a majority with support from the Arab parties, an option largely unavailable to Netanyahu. Another possibility is a broad national unity government that excludes the far-right parties. However, two fundamental issues make that currently unlikely: 1) Universal military service: Eisenkot has advocated broader, more equitable conscription, including ultra-Orthodox Israelis, while Netanyahu has resisted measures that would threaten his ultra-Orthodox coalition partners. 2) An independent October 7 commission of inquiry: Eisenkot has supported an independent state commission to investigate the failures surrounding October 7, 2023, while Netanyahu has opposed establishing such a commission. These are not minor disagreements. They go to the heart of accountability, equality, and the relationship between Israel’s political leadership and its citizens. Whatever the outcome, Israeli politics is entering a new chapter. The voters have spoken, and the negotiations ahead will determine whether Israel can bridge its divisions and establish a government capable of addressing these fundamental challenges.