Israel’s recent election ended in a near deadlock, with Benny Gantz’ Blue and White party outpacing incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party by one seat, 33 to 32.
Despite the narrow defeat, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin chose to give Netanyahu the first chance to establish a majority government, which he ultimately failed to do. It is now Gantz’ turn.
Phyllis Bennis, director of the New Internationalism Project at the Institute for Policy Studies, joined the Jerusalem Fund for a panel discussion on the implications of Israel’s election on U.S.-Israeli relations, the differences, or lack thereof, between the two party leaders, Israel’s shift toward a more conservative government, and the impact the election might have on Palestinians.