Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has taken the lead in the country’s general election, but his right-wing coalition has fallen short of the majority needed to form a government, according to partial results released on Wednesday.
Gatekeepers News reports that with nearly 86 per cent of votes counted, projections by Israel’s major broadcasters showed Netanyahu’s bloc on course to secure 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset, while the opposition bloc led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot was projected to win 48 seats.
Both blocs remain below the 61 seats required to command a parliamentary majority, leaving the formation of the next government dependent on negotiations with other political parties.
Parties representing Arab Israelis were projected to win 19 seats, potentially giving them decisive influence in determining which bloc forms the next government. However, cooperation with the Arab parties remains contentious among several Jewish-led opposition parties.
The election, held on Tuesday, October 27, was the first Israeli general election since the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023. Netanyahu faced criticism over the security failures preceding the attacks and the subsequent wars involving Israel.
Despite these challenges, his Likud party remained the largest political force, while support for some of his far-right allies declined. The results also showed increased electoral strength among Arab Israeli parties.
Netanyahu has called for a strong right-wing government and highlighted Israel’s military operations, including its confrontation with Iran, as central to his political agenda.
Meanwhile, Eisenkot and his allies have pledged to seek a government that would replace Netanyahu, although securing sufficient parliamentary support could prove difficult without cooperation from Arab-led parties.
Netanyahu is expected to remain caretaker prime minister while coalition negotiations continue. President Isaac Herzog will consult political parties before deciding whom to invite to form the next government.
The final outcome remains uncertain, as additional ballots, including votes cast by military personnel, police officers and diplomats, are expected to be counted and could affect the distribution of seats.
