Geopolitical analyst Dr Jeffrey Miller, editor of the Gulf States Insight newsletter, unpacks Israel's first election since the Gaza war, which saw a record turnout near 80%, boosted by returning expatriates and a surge in Arab-Israeli voting. He explains that neither Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc (53 seats) nor challenger Gadi Eisenkot's bloc (48 seats) can form a government alone, leaving Arab parties holding 19 seats but unlikely to be courted by either side.

Dr Miller argues Netanyahu and former army chief Eisenkot differ more in style than substance, both backing the Gaza and Iran wars and opposing a Palestinian state, though Eisenkot presents himself as more strategic and wants to curb settler violence. He weighs up likely outcomes - fresh elections or a national unity government - noting Netanyahu benefits from the stalemate as caretaker PM, especially with further US-Iran escalation expected after the American midterms ([gulfstatesinsights.org](https://gulfstatesinsights.org)).

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