Who will control the Knesset? Plus: why the argument over autism?
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I’m writing this as the world wakes up to news of a blue wave of Democrat wins in the US midterms. What they mean for America and the world will be the subject of next week’s issue but this week we are focusing on Israel.
As seasoned Knesset watchers know, the plethora of parties on the ballot and proportional representation rarely produce immediate clear winners and a new government in short order. But as Jonathan Freedland puts it in this week’s cover story, the 2026 election presents a philosophical as well as a political puzzle.
Benjamin Netanyahu may have lost his parliamentary majority, but the opposition bloc needs more than Jewish parties to take control of the Knesset and offer Gadi Eisenkot the premiership. As Jonathan explains, Netanyahu’s loss contains the path to a possible win, while the road to success for Eisenkot means working with Palestinian parties, a red line many Jewish voters and MPs may not be willing to cross.
The real headline result so far is that Palestinian parties are now in a pivotal position and that Bedouin turnout was key to their winning an unprecedented 19 seats. As our Middle East correspondent, Emma Graham-Harrison, reports, women’s self-organisation led to up to 93% of eligible voters casting their ballots in some areas. This has given the Arab coalition a “historic” opportunity to change Israel’s direction. As the bloc’s leader, Yousef Jabareen, explains to Julian Borger, it’s a chance he is ready to take with the Joint List prepared to offer tactical support to the Eisenkot coalition becoming a minority government. As I write, voting has just started in that other big election, the US midterms, the results of which we will analyse next week. Get the Guardian Weekly delivered to your home address
Five essential reads in this week’s edition
Spotlight | Connected through chaos As Donald Trump fans the flames of a world on fire with his vengeful foreign policy, can rational actors on the diplomatic stage douse the conflagration, asks Patrick Wintour
Science | The tales one fish can tell Pioneering research into the tambaqui has shown that it is a vital canary in the coalmine to monitor the effects of global heating and oxygen loss in the Amazon, reports Mac Margolis
Feature | A spectrum of opinion on autism Why have the numbers of people diagnosed with the condition ballooned over the past 20 years: is it overdiagnosis or an overly expansive definition? John Harris investigates
Opinion | Serbia deserves to succeed But the victorious Student List’s ability to consolidate democracy relies on a future in Europe and Brussels must court these new leaders, argues Srđjan Cvijić
Culture | Still on the line Jimmy Webb, who wrote the ever poignant Wichita Lineman for Glen Campbell as well other classic American hits, tells Dave Simpson about a new album and why, at 80, he still loves playing live
What else we’ve been reading
As their first recordings are remastered and released, the seminal US hardcore band Bad Brains spoke to Alex Deller about the band’s evolution, how discovering punk changed their trajectory and their habit of self-sabotaging, while fans recall an energy at the band’s gigs that was “chaotic but hypnotic”. Clare Horton, acting editor
With the sad news of the death of Patrick Stewart, tributes came from far and wide for the Royal Shakespearean turned Starfleet officer. Star Trek co-star Marina Sirtis, who played Counselor Deanna Troi in the series, penned a tribute full of gratitude, fun and mischief. Neil Willis, production editor
Other highlights from the Guardian website
Audio | Why politicians chasing economic growth is a lie | Radical Thinking with Aditya Chakrabortty
Video | James Talarico wins Senate race in Texas, securing historic victory
Gallery | Metropolis: more than four decades of street photography
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