Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies emerged as the largest bloc in Israel's parliamentary election on Tuesday but fell short of the majority needed to form a government, leaving the country facing weeks of negotiations and possible deadlock.1,7,6
With 99 percent of ballots counted, Netanyahu's Likud party and its far-right and ultra-Orthodox allies were on track to win 53 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, while the bloc led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot was set for 48 seats, according to partial results. A government requires 61 seats, so neither side can govern without additional support.7,4,6
The figures reversed election-night projections. Three Israeli broadcasters initially projected in exit polls that Eisenkot's Change bloc would win 52 to 53 seats to 50 for Netanyahu's bloc, with the Kan 11 exit poll putting Likud at 25 seats and Netanyahu's alliance at 50. As counting continued, broadcasters updated their estimates to a tie at 51 seats or a narrow three-seat lead for Netanyahu, before the official count put his bloc ahead at 53 to 54 seats, depending on the stage of the count. The New York Post put Arab parties at 17 seats in the exit polls; later counts put them at 19.2,7,1,8
The two majority Arab parties, the socially conservative United Arab List, or Ra'am, and the left-wing Joint List, are on course to win a combined 19 seats, a record that would exceed their previous high of 15 seats and the 10 seats Arab parties held in the outgoing Knesset. The reports differed on the size of the Arab population, with the New York Post saying Israeli Arabs make up about 25 percent of the population and NPR putting the figure at about 20 percent. Turnout was reported at more than 77 percent, described as the highest in more than two decades, with President Isaac Herzog putting the figure at 77.7 percent, and the Daily Wire reporting Arab turnout at 80 percent. At least 38 parties ran for the Knesset.4,6,2,7,8
On Wednesday, Netanyahu's Likud party claimed the elections were "stolen" by Arab parties and said it was providing evidence to police. Netanyahu said evidence would be handed to police, the Shin Bet security service and the Central Elections Committee, and referred to statements about the "involvement of foreign entities that interfered and bribed voters in favor of Arab parties," saying they were "an unprecedented shock." Police responded by saying there is no investigative substantiation to the claims. Acting Central Elections Committee director general Dean Livne said in a letter, "The Knesset elections were conducted lawfully. The integrity of the elections at polling stations was rigorously safeguarded, and to the best of our knowledge, there is no basis for allegations of systematic violations of election integrity."1,6,4
Qatar denied involvement after being named in connection with the allegations. "We categorically deny allegations that Qatar has interfered in Israeli elections or funded any activities intended to influence their outcome," the country said. foreign minister spokesman Majed Al Ansari said accusations by certain Israeli politicians had "launched yet another disinformation campaign aiming to drag Qatar into Israeli political disputes." Sami Abu Shehadeh, chair of one of the parties in the Arab-led Joint List, called the claims a new phase of "incitement" against Arab-led groups, while Ra'am leader Mansour Abbas welcomed any investigation and said his party had nothing to do with it. Eisenkot said political actors should not "exploit the information" that had yet to be clarified "in order undermine the official results."4
Both Netanyahu and Eisenkot said they should be tasked with forming a government. Eisenkot said in a statement, "If these are the final results, they would mark a victory," and later told supporters, "The coalition of failure has lost the people's trust," adding, "I will work with my partners to ensure that the people's decision is translated into a Zionist government." Fellow opposition leader Yair Lapid said, "Netanyahu's bloc suffered a tough defeat," adding, "This is a total collapse and the public told them to go home." Eisenkot ruled out bringing Arab parties into his government before the election but left open some room for collaboration under conditions including that parties denounce "Hamas as a terrorist organization that must be destroyed."2,7,6
Netanyahu declared at Likud headquarters in Jerusalem that his right-wing bloc had won a "great majority." "We must put in place a strong right-wing national government," he said. "It is forbidden, simply forbidden, to endanger Israel by forming a government that relies on anti-Zionist Arab parties." In remarks reported through an interpreter, he also said, "We must form a right-wing national strong government. That is what must be done. We must not, must not endanger Israel and establish a government that is backed by anti-Zionist Arab parties."7,1
Once results are confirmed, Herzog will hold consultations with all factions and invite the leader he believes has the best chance to form a government, a process that could take weeks. Herzog said he expected to receive official results next week. "It is a badge of honour for Israeli society, and it was remarkable to see how deep the desire for democracy is in Israel," he said. "We must do everything we can, certainly after yesterday, to avoid another round of elections. So, I expect everyone who comes here to come with an open mind." Officials began counting as many as 480,000 absentee double-envelope ballots cast mostly by soldiers, prisoners, diplomats and hospital patients, representing just under 10 percent of votes cast and down from an earlier prediction of about 600,000. The Central Elections Commission said the count began early Thursday, with a full count expected Thursday afternoon but finalized official results not due until Nov. 4, and the remaining votes were not expected to materially change the outcome although they could affect seat distribution under proportional representation.7,4,6
Several paths were outlined, none certain. Netanyahu would need a defector from Eisenkot's partners or a unity government with Eisenkot, an arrangement used before especially in wartime, but a Netanyahu official called a defection impossible and Eisenkot and his allies ruled out unity. Eisenkot's bloc combined with the 19 Arab seats would exceed 61, and there is a technical way for Arab parties to support him from outside, but Israelis have resisted reliance on Arab parties in a ruling coalition especially after Oct. 7, and all but one of the Jewish parties have pledged not to work with them. Retired Maj. Gen. Nimrod Sheffer, a Democrats party candidate credited with 9 to 10 seats in exit polls, said the anti-Netanyahu camp had met Arab leaders to discuss a government. If neither side succeeds, Israel would head to another election.1,7,2
Tuesday's vote was the first since the Hamas-led attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, and the wars that followed in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran, and was seen as deciding leadership and the country's hard-line, religious-nationalist trajectory. About 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage in the attack, and tens of thousands of expatriates flew home to vote. Israel's subsequent campaign has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, and Israel faces charges of genocide, while Netanyahu faces an international arrest warrant for alleged war crimes. A July 2025 poll found more than 67 percent of Israelis said they were not very troubled about suffering in Gaza, while Netanyahu supporters said wars from Gaza to Lebanon to Iran restored security. Key campaign issues included accountability for security failures, the conduct of regional wars, conscripting ultra-Orthodox men, judicial reforms and international standing.6,7
A U.S. official confirmed that Netanyahu pushed for attacks on Iran before the election, a point Israeli defense officials also made, and NPR reported the U.S. and Israel could be preparing for major attacks that could take place after U.S. midterm elections. At Netanyahu's election-night party, screens showed soldiers, airstrikes and President Trump shaking hands with and endorsing Netanyahu, and Trump urged voters to reelect Netanyahu to "finish the job that we started." Israeli analyst Danny Citrinowitz said Eisenkot would likely face pressure to join a unity government if Netanyahu moves with Washington against Iran. "Netanyahu definitely has an incentive to go to war, he understands that returning to war against Iran while forming a government will serve his interest," Citrinowitz said. U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said he hoped a new government would "change course massively" and respect international law, saying, "Israel has its obligations under international law, international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and they need to respect them."1,6,4
