Israel election leaves Netanyahu and opposition short of governing majority

Israel’s election has produced no clear governing majority, with both major political blocs falling short of the 61 seats required to control the 120-member Knesset. Nearly 90 percent of ballots had been counted by Wednesday evening, according to the Israeli Central Elections Committee. Preliminary figures put Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc on course for 53 seats.

The opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot was projected to win 48. Arab parties, including the Joint List and Ra’am, could together secure 19 seats, potentially giving them a decisive role in coalition negotiations despite both major blocs having ruled out including them in a government. More than 500,000 special double-envelope ballots had yet to be counted.

The votes include ballots cast by soldiers, diplomats and others voting away from their registered polling stations. Final results could be available as early as Thursday evening, although the outstanding ballots may change the distribution of seats. The election was the first since the October 7, 2023, attacks and the subsequent Gaza war.

It was widely viewed as a referendum on Netanyahu’s premiership. The 77-year-old prime minister is expected to remain caretaker premier until a new government is formed, regardless of the final result. President Isaac Herzog is due to consult party leaders next week after the official results are released.

He has urged politicians to avoid another election that would delay the creation of a government. Israel has never had a party win an outright parliamentary majority, making coalition negotiations a normal part of the political process. Eisenkot said his alliance would focus on forming a government committed to change.

He characterised the vote as a rejection of the government associated with October 7 and said the opposition had been given a heavy responsibility. Analysts cited by Al Jazeera predicted Netanyahu could seek a unity government including Eisenkot, but the opposition leader’s comments and the unresolved seat count left that outcome uncertain. Arab voter turnout appeared to have been significant.

The Joint List said preliminary figures indicated that Arab voters helped prevent Netanyahu’s bloc from reaching a majority. Its leader, Yousef Jabareen, said the alliance could support an anti-Netanyahu government from outside but would not join it. Netanyahu’s Likud party alleged that Arab parties had “stolen” the election through criminal activity and said it was submitting evidence to police, the Shin Bet and the election committee.

The Joint List rejected the government’s approach and said voters had responded to intimidation and policies it described as racist and violent. Those claims remain political allegations while the official count and any inquiries proceed.