Netanyahu Bloc Lacks Majority as Israel Faces Coalition Calculations
With 53 seats projected for the prime minister's side, political leaders weigh historic alliances to form a government or risk another election next year.
By Alina Campbell ·
Final results are pending in Israel as voters await confirmation that no side holds a clear majority.
Local media projections show Netanyahu's bloc securing 53 seats in the 120-seat Knesset. Opposition parties are projected to win 48 seats, while Arab-led lists are expected to take 19. These numbers leave every major faction short of the 61 seats required to command a majority.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains in office while political leaders decide on their next move. The chief rival, Gadi Eisenkot, spoke of forming a government that serves all citizens and reflects the popular will. Eisenkot has indicated he is open to working with Arab-led parties to reach the necessary threshold, despite not mentioning the alliance in his latest public address.
The Joint List, one of the Arab-led parties, stated it is open to political cooperation. The party cited an unprecedented show of strength and noted that Jewish voters were willing to swim against the tide of racism. Small rallies took place overnight in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in support of a coalition that includes these groups. No Arab party has joined a coalition government since a brief stint in 2021.
Likud, Netanyahu's party, received the most votes but has accused Arab-led parties of stealing the election. The party asked the election committee to investigate these claims without providing specific evidence. The committee stated that the number of reported irregularities in the election was low. About 500,000 absentee ballots from military personnel, diplomats, and others are being counted, with final results expected by Thursday evening.
President Isaac Herzog will task a leader with forming the next government next week. This role has traditionally gone to the leader of the largest party, though it is not required by law. Herzog and Eisenkot have both signaled a desire to avoid a new election. If a government cannot be formed after multiple attempts, Israel would face another vote early next year.
The election took place against a backdrop of deep divisions over military service exemptions for the ultra-Orthodox and the conduct of the war in Gaza. Netanyahu faces corruption allegations and criticism for delaying hostage deals. The Trump administration has spoken of new strikes against Iran after the U.S. midterm elections on Nov. 3. Experts suggest Netanyahu could use a renewed war to press for a unity government with him in charge, potentially delaying a public inquiry into the Oct. 7, 2023 security failures.
