Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition has emerged as the largest bloc in Israel’s parliamentary elections but has fallen short of the 61 seats required to secure a majority in the Knesset and form a government. The results have triggered intense political negotiations, with opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot also facing difficulties in assembling a coalition.
According to Israel’s Channel 12, Netanyahu’s alliance emerged as the largest coalition bloc but failed to reach the majority threshold. Left-leaning newspaper Haaretz reported that Netanyahu’s coalition secured 53 seats, including 27 seats for his Likud party, which emerged as the largest single party in the Knesset.
The coalition’s performance marks a decline compared with the 2022 elections, when Netanyahu’s alliance won 64 seats.
Meanwhile, the party led by Netanyahu’s main rival, Gadi Eisenkot, Yashar, secured 21 seats. Together with its allies, it could assemble a 48-seat coalition. Its chances of forming a government could improve if opposition parties agree to cooperate with parties representing predominantly Palestinian communities.
Following the elections, Netanyahu’s camp accused Arab community parties of electoral fraud and alleged that Qatar had interfered in the voting process. Doha has denied the allegation.
Israel’s parliamentary elections have been closely monitored across the Arab world. Netanyahu’s relations with Arab countries have remained strained, while the Gaza war and the war with Iran have left him appearing increasingly isolated.
Arab News, an English-language newspaper published in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh, placed the Israeli election among its leading stories.
In an article, Gabriel Malvasi wrote that increased voter participation among Palestinian citizens of Israel had complicated the political calculations for the rival coalitions led by Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot. Neither side has an easy path to securing a parliamentary majority.
According to the article, the political deadlock could work in Netanyahu’s favour. Despite failing to secure a clear majority, he could remain caretaker prime minister while coalition negotiations continue for an extended period. This arrangement could remain in place until a new government is formed or another election takes place.
Eisenkot accused Netanyahu of running an "illegal influence campaign" aimed at undermining the election results. However, his remarks do not amount to a formal offer of an agreement with Arab lawmakers. Nevertheless, the parliamentary arithmetic could eventually force him to consider such an arrangement.
Any negotiations could begin with the Ra'am party and its leader, Mansour Abbas. The party had previously joined a right-wing government led by Naftali Bennett, who is now aligned with Eisenkot’s coalition.
Another possible political arrangement emerged on Thursday. According to The Times of Israel, the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party proposed providing external support to an Eisenkot-led government without formally joining the coalition. In return, it has demanded exemptions from compulsory military service.
Negotiations with the Joint List, which secured 11 seats, are expected to be more difficult.
The newspaper reported that Eisenkot had laid down four conditions for cooperation. These include recognising Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, accepting the values outlined in Israel’s Declaration of Independence, supporting compulsory military service for Palestinian citizens of Israel, and condemning Hamas as a terrorist organisation.
The Joint List, meanwhile, is demanding full civil and national equality for Palestinian citizens of Israel. It is also seeking recognition of their collective rights as part of the Palestinian people, an end to the war in Gaza, opposition to the expansion of Jewish settlements and occupation, and a political pathway towards establishing an independent Palestinian state.
The proposed Palestinian state would be based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
One possible outcome of the negotiations could be the formation of a government primarily aimed at removing Netanyahu from power. For this arrangement, the Joint List could agree to support an opposition-led government from outside the coalition.
The United Arab Emirates-based English-language newspaper The National also highlighted the possibility of another election if neither political bloc manages to secure a parliamentary majority.
In an article titled 'Talks Begin', the newspaper reported that Eisenkot had promised to work "calmly and with determination" but had not explained how he intended to implement his government-formation plan.
He also said that, despite the ongoing examination of the voting process, he would not allow the swearing-in of the new Knesset to be delayed by "even one minute".
According to The National, as discussions between political parties began, Eisenkot met Yair Golan, leader of the centre-left Democrats. Golan was also holding discussions with former Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Arab party leader Mansour Abbas.
Golan said, "Israeli citizens have shown Netanyahu the exit door. We will do everything possible to form a government that brings change and relief, because that is what voters want."
Vote counting was completed on Thursday. Once the results are officially confirmed, President Isaac Herzog can assign a member of the Knesset the responsibility of assembling a coalition to form the next government.
Following the announcement of the final results, Herzog will entrust the task to the leader of the party he believes has the best chance of forming a government.
If neither Netanyahu nor Eisenkot manages to secure the required 61 seats, Israel could face another parliamentary election early next year.
The final seat distribution is as follows: Likud secured 27 seats, Yashar won 21, Yahad obtained 12, the Joint List secured 11, the Democrats won eight, Israel Beiteinu received seven, Otzma Yehudit secured seven, United Torah Judaism won seven, Shas obtained six, and Religious Zionism secured six seats.
With neither major political bloc commanding the required majority, negotiations with Arab parties, potential external support from ultra-Orthodox lawmakers and disagreements over political conditions are likely to shape the next phase of government formation in Israel.
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