The leading party in Israel, Likud, has agreed to include the far-right 'National Religious' party in its new governing coalition. This party supports the expansion of Jewish settlements in Palestinian territories and opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state. Both parties reached an agreement today after eight hours of discussions, and they will collaborate with the centrist Shinui party. This coalition will have a slim majority in the Israeli parliament, which has 120 seats, totaling 61 seats. The leader of the Labor Party, considered the largest opposition party, stated today that his party will not participate in negotiations for the formation of a new coalition.
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Likud Party Forms Coalition with Far-Right 'National Religious' Party - 2003-02-23
Feb 11, 2026
February 11, 2026
1 min read
📰 VOA Persian
📋 Key Takeaway
The Likud Party has formed a coalition with the far-right 'National Religious' Party, which opposes Palestinian statehood and supports settlement expansion. This coalition, along with the centrist Shinui party, will hold a slim majority in the Israeli parliament. The Labor Party, the main opposition, has opted out of coalition negotiations.
🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line:
The formation of this coalition signals a continued hardline approach to Israeli-Palestinian relations.
👥 Key Players
Likud Party
MENTIONED
Leading political party in Israel
"Likud is a major player in Israeli politics, often associated with right-wing policies and strong national security stances."
National Religious Party
MENTIONED
Far-right political party in Israel
"This party's support for settlement expansion and opposition to Palestinian statehood significantly influences Israeli policy and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."
Shinui Party
MENTIONED
Centrist political party in Israel
"Shinui's participation in the coalition indicates a shift towards more centrist policies amidst a right-wing coalition."
Labor Party
MENTIONED
Main opposition party in Israel
"As the largest opposition party, Labor's stance and actions can shape the political landscape and public discourse."
📰 What Happened
The Likud Party has formed a coalition with the far-right National Religious Party, agreeing to collaborate with the centrist Shinui party. This coalition will hold a slim majority in the Israeli parliament.
- The coalition consists of Likud, National Religious, and Shinui parties, totaling 61 seats in a 120-seat parliament.
- The Labor Party has chosen not to engage in coalition negotiations.
💡 Why It Matters
🇮🇷 For Iran: Iran views Israel's right-wing coalition as a threat to regional stability and as a challenge to its influence in the Palestinian territories.
🌍 Regional: The coalition's policies may exacerbate tensions with Palestinians and neighboring Arab states, impacting regional peace efforts.
🌐 International: The coalition's stance on settlements and Palestinian statehood may complicate international diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
📚 Background
The Israeli political landscape is often characterized by coalitions, with right-wing parties advocating for policies that prioritize Jewish settlement expansion over Palestinian statehood.
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Middle Eastern geopolitics
📡 Source:
NEUTRAL
📊 Confidence:
70%
The article presents factual information about the coalition formation without overt bias, making it a reliable source for understanding the political situation.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%
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