'Chicken option': How Eisenkot could become prime minister without a coalition

Constitutional law expert Matan Gutman proposes a 'chicken option' to break the political deadlock: Gadi Eisenkot could form a government without coalition agreements, relying on the Basic Law, and present MKs with a choice — support him or leave Netanyahu in power.

Constitutional law expert Matan Gutman proposes an unconventional way out of the political deadlock after the Israeli elections, where neither bloc secured 61 seats. In a column for Ynet, he describes the 'chicken option' (or 'chicken game') — a concept from game theory where two participants race toward each other, and the one who swerves loses. Gutman notes that the Basic Law on the Government does not require coalition agreements or a majority of 61 votes — only a simple majority in a confidence vote. Under his plan, Gadi Eisenkot, upon receiving the mandate, could announce the formation of a government consisting solely of his own 'Yashar' faction, present basic principles, and put MKs to a choice: support him or leave Netanyahu heading a transitional government. Critics will point to the instability of such a government, but Gutman believes it is constitutionally permissible. The article does not include seat distribution figures or reactions from the politicians mentioned.