Israel election leaves Netanyahu and opposition short of a governing majority

Israel’s election has left Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc ahead but without a majority in the 120-seat Knesset, creating a difficult coalition-building process and prompting caution from Germany. The right-wing and religious parties supporting Netanyahu won 53 seats, according to figures reported by Al Jazeera, while the opposition bloc led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot won 48. The three Arab-led parties secured a record 19 seats.

A partnership between those parties and Eisenkot’s camp could produce a majority of 67 seats, although such an arrangement would face substantial political resistance. Netanyahu’s bloc has ruled out cooperation with the Arab-majority parties, while reports differ on Eisenkot’s position: Al Jazeera said he had previously rejected such a coalition, whereas the United Arab List/Ra’am has indicated it could work with his bloc to remove Netanyahu. The results are not yet formally complete.

President Isaac Herzog is expected to nominate a candidate to form a government after the results are certified this week. With neither main camp able to govern alone, the election has raised the possibility of a minority administration led by Eisenkot and supported from outside by parties representing Palestinian citizens of Israel. The election process has also become politically contested.

Netanyahu’s Likud party alleged, without providing evidence, that Arab-led parties had “stolen” the vote and received funding from Qatar. Qatar rejected the claim, calling it a disinformation campaign. Eisenkot accused Netanyahu of conducting an organised effort to undermine the legitimacy of the result.

Noam Sohlberg, head of Israel’s Central Elections Committee, said the results would stand even if suspicions of foreign interference were eventually substantiated. Appearing with the head of the Shin Bet and the attorney general, Sohlberg said such findings would not invalidate the electoral process or the results as a whole. Israeli police separately released two of three activists arrested before polling began.

Police said the activists had been carrying cash envelopes allegedly intended to bribe voters and that they were connected to Ra’am, which won eight seats. Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas described the arrests as undemocratic and an effort to influence the outcome. One of the released suspects was placed under house arrest.

Germany has avoided a substantive public response while Israel’s next government remains uncertain. A spokesperson for Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Berlin had maintained contact with Israeli politicians through its ambassador and would work with whichever government emerges. Wadephul also stressed the historical ties between Germany and Israel.

German officials have nonetheless expressed concerns about the consequences of prolonged negotiations. Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan said aid access in Gaza could not wait for coalition talks, particularly as winter approaches. She also called for an end to settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Berlin is not currently planning to recognise a Palestinian state, according to DW. At the same time, German conservative foreign-policy expert Jürgen Hardt said a government closer to the political centre would be preferable, while Green politician Omid Nouripour described the election as positive for Israeli democracy after previous political turmoil.