Israel’s Election Leaves Neither Netanyahu Nor Opposition With a Majority

Israel’s Central Elections Committee certified the results of the October 27, 2026, parliamentary election on November 4. Neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc nor the main opposition holds a majority in the 120-seat Knesset.

Netanyahu’s right-wing and ultra-Orthodox allies secured 53 seats. The opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party and its partners holds 48. Arab-led lists, the Joint List and Ra’am, won a combined 19 seats, their highest total. Turnout reached about 78 percent.

Likud took 27 seats. Yashar won 21. Other parties in Netanyahu’s group include Otzma Yehudit, United Torah Judaism, Shas and Religious Zionism. The opposition includes Together, the Democrats and Yisrael Beiteinu. The committee found no irregularities that changed the outcome after reviewing polling stations. Justice Noam Sohlberg presented the certified results to President Isaac Herzog.

Herzog has begun consultations with party leaders. He must choose the lawmaker he judges has the best chance of assembling a coalition. That person then has a set period to form a government. Netanyahu remains caretaker until a new government wins a confidence vote. If no one succeeds, Israel faces another election.

Netanyahu has ruled out relying on Arab parties, calling such an arrangement unacceptable. Most Jewish parties have historically avoided formal coalitions with them. Some opposition figures have also expressed reluctance. Arab parties could still influence the outcome as kingmakers. Ra’am has indicated it may support Eisenkot in certain scenarios.

The election was the first since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks and the subsequent wars. Netanyahu’s bloc lost seats compared with the previous Knesset. The new Knesset is expected to be sworn in around November 10. Coalition talks are expected to last weeks.

The deadlock means Israel’s next government will require compromises among parties that have previously refused to work together. How Herzog assigns the mandate and whether any side can reach 61 seats will determine whether Netanyahu continues or a new leadership takes power.