Israel's Herzog begins coalition talks after election leaves no majority

President Isaac Herzog accepted the certified results of Israel's 26th Knesset election on 4 November 2026 and began consultations with party leaders on who should form the next government.

Neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc nor the opposition led by Gadi Eisenkot secured the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-member parliament. Netanyahu's coalition finished with 53 seats. Eisenkot's bloc won 48. Arab-led parties Ra'am and the Joint List together secured a record 19 seats. Herzog stated that the elections are over and that it is time to face reality. Central Elections Committee chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg presented the official results and warned that casting doubt on lawfully determined outcomes poses a danger to democracy.

The vote took place on 27 October. Final verification by the elections committee confirmed the seat totals after reviewing records from more than 9,000 polling stations. Netanyahu had raised claims of irregularities and foreign interference; the committee found no issues that altered the outcome. Three factions aligned with Netanyahu recommended he be given the first chance to form a government. A fourth recommended Eisenkot. Arab parties have not been ruled out by all opposition figures, though most Jewish parties have historically declined to form coalitions with them.

Herzog will complete consultations and then choose the candidate he judges best placed to assemble a majority. The nominee will have 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension. Possible outcomes include a Netanyahu-led government, an Eisenkot-led government relying on Arab support, a unity arrangement, or another election if no coalition forms. Netanyahu remains caretaker until a new government is installed.

The result ends the previous governing majority and opens a period of negotiation in a polarized Knesset. Arab parties' increased representation gives them potential influence as kingmakers if any Jewish-led bloc is willing to negotiate with them. Eisenkot's bloc has discussed backing him to replace Netanyahu while remaining divided on cooperation with Arab parties.

Herzog has urged originality, creativity, and goodwill to avoid another round of voting. The process will determine whether Israel continues under a right-wing religious coalition or shifts toward a different configuration that includes or excludes the Arab parties. The outcome also affects the continuity of policies related to the ongoing regional conflicts.

The certified numbers fix the starting point for coalition mathematics. Whether parties cross previous red lines on partnerships will decide if a government forms within the allotted time or the country returns to the polls.