Waiting for 61: JTA's Israel Election Podcast

Could Gadi Eisenkot become Israel’s next prime minister without forming a 61-seat coalition? A proposal articulated by Dr. Matan Gutman in Ynet suggests there may be an unconventional path to forming a government that could allow parties to support Eisenkot without formally joining his coalition.

Ami Eden and Ruth Eglash break down how the proposal would work, whether it could break Israel’s political deadlock, and what it would mean for the stability of the next government.

Dr. Gutman’s article: https://www.ynetnews.com/opinions-analysis/article/bk6zrvetze

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What does it take to win an election in Israel? And what happens after the votes are counted?

Waiting for 61, JTA’s Israel election podcast, is your guide to the personalities, power struggles, and political calculations shaping Israel’s future. Whether you're a seasoned observer of Israeli politics or just trying to understand how it all works, we'll take you beyond the headlines to explore what's driving the election, why it matters, and what it could mean for Israel and the wider world.

Send questions to our hosts: waitingfor61@jta.org

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Free news is only free if someone pays for the reporters, the editors, and the late nights that come with an election. Your gift keeps Waiting for 61 free for every listener, whether they’re hearing it for the first time or have followed Israeli politics for decades.

https://tinyurl.com/5fyscbd5

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CREDITS:

CO-HOST: Ami Eden

CO-HOST: Ruth Eglash

PRODUCER: Maya Rackoff

What does it take to win an election in Israel? And what happens after the votes are counted?

Waiting for 61, JTA’s Israel election podcast, is your guide to the personalities, power struggles, and political calculations shaping Israel’s future. Whether you're a seasoned observer of Israeli politics or just trying to understand how it all works, we'll take you beyond the headlines to explore what's driving the election, why it matters, and what it could mean for Israel and the wider world.

Send questions to our hosts: waitingfor61@jta.org

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Free news is only free if someone pays for the reporters, the editors, and the late nights that come with an election. Your gift keeps Waiting for 61 free for every listener, whether they’re hearing it for the first time or have followed Israeli politics for decades.

https://tinyurl.com/5fyscbd5

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CREDITS:

CO-HOST: Ami Eden

CO-HOST: Ruth Eglash

PRODUCER: Maya Rackoff

The Israeli presidency is largely ceremonial, with limited authority over government policy. But there are moments when the president’s judgment carries enormous weight—and this is one of them. As Israel’s political parties vie to assemble a governing coalition of at least 61 seats, President Isaac Herzog faces a consequential decision: who should get the first opportunity to form the next government?

With Ruth out in the field reporting, Ami is joined by special guest Yaakov Katz, senior fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute, former editor-in-chief and current columnist at The Jerusalem Post, and author of several books, including the recently published While Israel Slept. Together, they explore the president’s role in Israel’s political system, the influence Herzog can wield at a pivotal moment, and the man behind the office.

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What does it take to win an election in Israel? And what happens after the votes are counted?

Waiting for 61, JTA’s Israel election podcast, is your guide to the personalities, power struggles, and political calculations shaping Israel’s future. Whether you're a seasoned observer of Israeli politics or just trying to understand how it all works, we'll take you beyond the headlines to explore what's driving the election, why it matters, and what it could mean for Israel and the wider world.

Send questions to our hosts: waitingfor61@jta.org

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Free news is only free if someone pays for the reporters, the editors, and the late nights that come with an election. Your gift keeps Waiting for 61 free for every listener, whether they’re hearing it for the first time or have followed Israeli politics for decades.

https://tinyurl.com/3ku3f7tw

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CREDITS:

CO-HOST: Ami Eden

CO-HOST: Ruth Eglash

PRODUCER: Maya Rackoff

Overall, the anti-Netanyahu parties have secured 67 mandates. So why isn’t a change government being formed? Well, 19 of those seats belong to the Arab parties — Ra’am, led by Mansour Abbas, and the Joint List, the more extreme amalgam of anti-Zionist groups. Many opposition leaders, like Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Lieberman pledged during their campaigns not to sit in government with either of these parties, leaving the blocs at a standstill. On today’s episode of Waiting for 61, Ami and Ruth discussed why it is considered so problematic to form a government with the Arab Parties and what the opposition’s options are going forward.

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What does it take to win an election in Israel? And what happens after the votes are counted?

Waiting for 61, JTA’s Israel election podcast, is your guide to the personalities, power struggles, and political calculations shaping Israel’s future. Whether you're a seasoned observer of Israeli politics or just trying to understand how it all works, we'll take you beyond the headlines to explore what's driving the election, why it matters, and what it could mean for Israel and the wider world.

Send questions to our hosts: waitingfor61@jta.org

_____

Free news is only free if someone pays for the reporters, the editors, and the late nights that come with an election. Your gift keeps Waiting for 61 free for every listener, whether they’re hearing it for the first time or have followed Israeli politics for decades.

https://tinyurl.com/5fyscbd5

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CREDITS:

CO-HOST: Ami Eden

CO-HOST: Ruth Eglash

PRODUCER: Maya Rackoff

The heavily anticipated Israeli election happened yesterday, but the results offered little clarity on who will be Israel’s next prime minister. The Likud, led by Prime Minister Netanyahu, outperformed predictions, winning a projected 27 seats, while Yashar, Gadi Eisenkot’s party is projected to secure just 22. All in all, the Netanyahu-led bloc managed to secure around 53 mandates and the change block, 48. Meanwhile, Arab voters cast their ballots at remarkably high rates, with the two parties projected to secure 19 seats. Without joining forces with the Arab parties or a dramatic shift in political alliances, the parties are at a deadlock. On today’s episode of Waiting for 61, Ami and Ruth unpacked this complex outcome, laying out all the possible scenarios going forward.

_____

What does it take to win an election in Israel? And what happens after the votes are counted?

Waiting for 61, JTA’s Israel election podcast, is your guide to the personalities, power struggles, and political calculations shaping Israel’s future. Whether you're a seasoned observer of Israeli politics or just trying to understand how it all works, we'll take you beyond the headlines to explore what's driving the election, why it matters, and what it could mean for Israel and the wider world.

Send questions to our hosts: waitingfor61@jta.org

_____

Free news is only free if someone pays for the reporters, the editors, and the late nights that come with an election. Your gift keeps Waiting for 61 free for every listener, whether they’re hearing it for the first time or have followed Israeli politics for decades.

https://tinyurl.com/5fyscbd5

_____

CREDITS:

CO-HOST: Ami Eden

CO-HOST: Ruth Eglash

PRODUCER: Maya Rackoff

What does it take to win an election in Israel? And what happens after the votes are counted?

Waiting for 61, JTA’s Israel election podcast, is your guide to the personalities, power struggles, and political calculations shaping Israel’s future. Whether you're a seasoned observer of Israeli politics or just trying to understand how it all works, we'll take you beyond the headlines to explore what's driving the election, why it matters, and what it could mean for Israel and the wider world.

Send questions to our hosts: waitingfor61@jta.org

_____

Free news is only free if someone pays for the reporters, the editors, and the late nights that come with an election. Your gift keeps Waiting for 61 free for every listener, whether they’re hearing it for the first time or have followed Israeli politics for decades.

https://tinyurl.com/5fyscbd5

_____

CREDITS:

CO-HOST: Ami Eden

CO-HOST: Ruth Eglash

PRODUCER: Maya Rackoff

What does it take to win an election in Israel? And what happens after the votes are counted?

Waiting for 61, JTA’s Israel election podcast, is your guide to the personalities, power struggles, and political calculations shaping Israel’s future. Whether you're a seasoned observer of Israeli politics or just trying to understand how it all works, we'll take you beyond the headlines to explore what's driving the election, why it matters, and what it could mean for Israel and the wider world.

Send questions to our hosts: waitingfor61@jta.org

_____

Free news is only free if someone pays for the reporters, the editors, and the late nights that come with an election. Your gift keeps Waiting for 61 free for every listener, whether they’re hearing it for the first time or have followed Israeli politics for decades.

https://tinyurl.com/5fyscbd5

_____

CREDITS:

CO-HOST: Ami Eden

CO-HOST: Ruth Eglash

PRODUCER: Maya Rackoff

What does it take to win an election in Israel? And what happens after the votes are counted?

Waiting for 61, JTA’s Israel election podcast, is your guide to the personalities, power struggles and political calculations shaping Israel’s future. Whether you're a seasoned observer of Israeli politics or just trying to understand how it all works, we'll take you beyond the headlines to explore what's driving the election, why it matters – and what it could mean for Israel and the world.

Israeli elections are rarely straightforward. With a crowded field of parties, shifting political alliances and a parliamentary system where winning the most votes doesn't necessarily mean winning power, there's a lot to untangle. That's where we come in. Join Ami Eden, CEO of 70 Faces Media (JTA’s parent organization) and Ruth Eglash, JTA’s Senior Israel correspondent, every weekday for sharp analysis, lively conversations and a closer look at the forces driving Israel’s unpredictable political system.

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Free news is only free if someone pays for the reporters, the editors, and the late nights that come with an election. Your gift keeps Waiting for 61 free for every listener, whether they’re hearing it for the first time or have followed Israeli politics for decades.

Youtube:https://tinyurl.com/3ku3f7tw

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5fyscbd5

Apple: https://tinyurl.com/aavjwehz

What does it take to win an election in Israel? And what happens after the votes are counted?

Waiting for 61, JTA’s Israel election podcast, is your guide to the personalities, power struggles and political calculations shaping Israel’s future. Whether you're a seasoned observer of Israeli politics or just trying to understand how it all works, we'll take you beyond the headlines to explore what's driving the election, why it matters – and what it could mean for Israel and the world.

Israeli elections are rarely straightforward. With a crowded field of parties, shifting political alliances and a parliamentary system where winning the most votes doesn't necessarily mean winning power, there's a lot to untangle. That's where we come in. Join Ami Eden, CEO of 70 Faces Media (JTA’s parent organization) and Ruth Eglash, JTA’s Senior Israel correspondent, every weekday for sharp analysis, lively conversations and a closer look at the forces driving Israel’s unpredictable political system.

____

Free news is only free if someone pays for the reporters, the editors, and the late nights that come with an election. Your gift keeps Waiting for 61 free for every listener, whether they’re hearing it for the first time or have followed Israeli politics for decades.

Youtube:https://tinyurl.com/3ku3f7tw

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5fyscbd5

Apple: https://tinyurl.com/aavjwehz

What does it take to win an election in Israel? And what happens after the votes are counted?

Waiting for 61, JTA’s Israel election podcast, is your guide to the personalities, power struggles and political calculations shaping Israel’s future. Whether you're a seasoned observer of Israeli politics or just trying to understand how it all works, we'll take you beyond the headlines to explore what's driving the election, why it matters – and what it could mean for Israel and the world.

Israeli elections are rarely straightforward. With a crowded field of parties, shifting political alliances and a parliamentary system where winning the most votes doesn't necessarily mean winning power, there's a lot to untangle. That's where we come in. Join Ami Eden, CEO of 70 Faces Media (JTA’s parent organization) and Ruth Eglash, JTA’s Senior Israel correspondent, every weekday for sharp analysis, lively conversations and a closer look at the forces driving Israel’s unpredictable political system.

What does it take to win an election in Israel? And what happens after the votes are counted?

Waiting for 61, JTA’s Israel election podcast, is your guide to the personalities, power struggles and political calculations shaping Israel’s future. Whether you're a seasoned observer of Israeli politics or just trying to understand how it all works, we'll take you beyond the headlines to explore what's driving the election, why it matters – and what it could mean for Israel and the world.

Israeli elections are rarely straightforward. With a crowded field of parties, shifting political alliances and a parliamentary system where winning the most votes doesn't necessarily mean winning power, there's a lot to untangle. That's where we come in. Join Ami Eden, CEO of 70 Faces Media (JTA’s parent organization) and Ruth Eglash, JTA’s Senior Israel correspondent, every weekday for sharp analysis, lively conversations and a closer look at the forces driving Israel’s unpredictable political system.

What does it take to win an election in Israel? And what happens after the votes are counted?

Waiting for 61, JTA’s Israel election podcast, is your guide to the personalities, power struggles, and political calculations shaping Israel’s future. Whether you're a seasoned observer of Israeli politics or just trying to understand how it all works, we'll take you beyond the headlines to explore what's driving the election, why it matters, and what it could mean for Israel and the wider world.

Send questions to our hosts: waitingfor61@jta.org

———

CREDITS:

CO-HOST: Ami Eden

CO-HOST: Ruth Eglash

PRODUCER: Maya Rackoff

What does it take to win an election in Israel? And what happens after the votes are counted?

Waiting for 61, JTA’s Israel election podcast, is your guide to the personalities, power struggles and political calculations shaping Israel’s future. Whether you're a seasoned observer of Israeli politics or just trying to understand how it all works, we'll take you beyond the headlines to explore what's driving the election, why it matters – and what it could mean for Israel and the world.

Israeli elections are rarely straightforward. With a crowded field of parties, shifting political alliances and a parliamentary system where winning the most votes doesn't necessarily mean winning power, there's a lot to untangle. That's where we come in. Join Ami Eden, CEO of 70 Faces Media (JTA’s parent organization) and Ruth Eglash, JTA’s Senior Israel correspondent, every weekday for sharp analysis, lively conversations and a closer look at the forces driving Israel’s unpredictable political system.

What does it take to win an election in Israel? And what happens after the votes are counted?

Waiting for 61, JTA’s Israel election podcast, is your guide to the personalities, power struggles and political calculations shaping Israel’s future. Whether you're a seasoned observer of Israeli politics or just trying to understand how it all works, we'll take you beyond the headlines to explore what's driving the election, why it matters – and what it could mean for Israel and the world.

Israeli elections are rarely straightforward. With a crowded field of parties, shifting political alliances and a parliamentary system where winning the most votes doesn't necessarily mean winning power, there's a lot to untangle. That's where we come in. Join Ami Eden, CEO of 70 Faces Media (JTA’s parent organization) and Ruth Eglash, JTA’s Senior Israel correspondent, every weekday for sharp analysis, lively conversations and a closer look at the forces driving Israel’s unpredictable political system.

What does it take to win an election in Israel? And what happens after the votes are counted?

Waiting for 61, JTA’s Israel election podcast, is your guide to the personalities, power struggles, and political calculations shaping Israel’s future. Whether you're a seasoned observer of Israeli politics or just trying to understand how it all works, we'll take you beyond the headlines to explore what's driving the election, why it matters, and what it could mean for Israel and the wider world.

Send questions to our hosts: waitingfor61@jta.org

———

CREDITS:

CO-HOST: Ami Eden

CO-HOST: Ruth Eglash

PRODUCER: Maya Rackoff

What does it take to win an election in Israel? And what happens after the votes are counted?

Waiting for 61, JTA’s Israel election podcast, is your guide to the personalities, power struggles, and political calculations shaping Israel’s future. Whether you're a seasoned observer of Israeli politics or just trying to understand how it all works, we'll take you beyond the headlines to explore what's driving the election, why it matters, and what it could mean for Israel and the wider world.

Send questions to our hosts: waitingfor61@jta.org

———

CREDITS:

CO-HOST: Ami Eden

CO-HOST: Ruth Eglash

PRODUCER: Maya Rackoff

What does it take to win an election in Israel? And what happens after the votes are counted?

Waiting for 61, JTA’s Israel election podcast, is your guide to the personalities, power struggles, and political calculations shaping Israel’s future. Whether you're a seasoned observer of Israeli politics or just trying to understand how it all works, we'll take you beyond the headlines to explore what's driving the election, why it matters, and what it could mean for Israel and the wider world.

Send questions to our hosts: waitingfor61@jta.org

———

CREDITS:

CO-HOST: Ami Eden

CO-HOST: Ruth Eglash

PRODUCER: Maya Rackoff

What does it take to win an election in Israel? And what happens after the votes are counted?

Waiting for 61, JTA’s Israel election podcast, is your guide to the personalities, power struggles, and political calculations shaping Israel’s future. Whether you're a seasoned observer of Israeli politics or just trying to understand how it all works, we'll take you beyond the headlines to explore what's driving the election, why it matters, and what it could mean for Israel and the wider world.

Email us questions for the hosts: waitingfor61@jta.org

———

CREDITS:

CO-HOST: Ami Eden

CO-HOST: Ruth Eglash

PRODUCER: Maya Rackoff

CREDITS

CO-HOST: Ami Eden

CO-HOST: Ruth Eglash

PRODUCER: Maya Rackoff