Israel’s 2026 general election has ended without either of the country’s two main political camps securing enough seats to form a government independently. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing alliance has emerged ahead of the opposition, led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, but both camps remain short of the crucial parliamentary majority.
The biggest development is the strong performance of Arab-led political parties, which have secured a combined 19 seats in the 120-member Knesset. Their electoral gains could make them decisive players in the negotiations to form Israel’s next government.
According to the final results released on October 30, Netanyahu’s bloc secured 53 seats, while Eisenkot’s opposition bloc won 48. A party or alliance needs at least 61 seats to command a parliamentary majority.
Israel Election Results: Key Numbers
The final results underline the fragmented nature of Israel’s political landscape.
- Likud: 27 seats
- Yashar (Gadi Eisenkot): 21 seats
- B’Yachad (Naftali Bennett): 12 seats
- Joint List: 11 seats
- Ra’am: 8 seats
- The Democrats: 8 seats
- Yisrael Beytenu: 7 seats
- United Torah Judaism: 7 seats
- Otzma Yehudit: 7 seats
- Shas: 6 seats
- Religious Zionism: 6 seats
The combined strength of the two Arab-led parties, the Joint List and Ra’am, has reached 19 seats, marking a significant increase from their representation in the outgoing parliament.
Netanyahu Wins Most Seats but Falls Short of Majority
Netanyahu’s Likud party emerged as the largest single political party, securing 27 seats. However, the combined strength of his right-wing and religious allies stands at only 53 seats.
This represents a substantial decline from the 68 seats held by parties supporting his government in the previous Knesset.
Despite finishing ahead of the opposition bloc, Netanyahu faces the challenge of finding additional parliamentary support to reach the 61-seat threshold.
The election outcome has therefore weakened his position in coalition negotiations, although he remains a central figure in the government formation process.
Gadi Eisenkot Faces His Own Coalition Challenge
Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot’s bloc secured 48 seats, leaving it 13 short of a parliamentary majority.
Eisenkot, a former chief of the Israel Defense Forces, has been seeking to bring together opposition parties to establish a new government.
His alliance includes centrist and other opposition groups, with Naftali Bennett’s party also playing an important role in the broader political calculations.
However, the possibility of relying on Arab-led parties presents a major political challenge. Several parties in the Zionist opposition have previously ruled out joining a government dependent on the Joint List or Ra’am.
Arab Parties Emerge as Potential Kingmakers
The strongest political development in the election has been the combined performance of the Joint List and Ra’am.
With 19 seats, the Arab-led parties have gained significant parliamentary influence. Their support could theoretically provide Eisenkot’s opposition camp with enough numbers to cross the 61-seat threshold.
However, the arithmetic of forming a government is not the same as securing political agreement.
Arab political leaders have indicated their willingness to play a role in ending Netanyahu’s tenure, but ideological differences and opposition-party commitments could complicate negotiations.
The question now is whether Eisenkot’s alliance will consider parliamentary cooperation with Arab parties or attempt to negotiate support from other political groups.
Netanyahu’s Party Raises Election Integrity Allegations
The election results have also triggered a political dispute over allegations of electoral interference.
Netanyahu and his Likud party have accused Arab-led political groups of voter fraud and alleged outside interference. However, these accusations have not been substantiated publicly.
Arab political leaders have rejected the allegations, while Israeli election authorities have indicated that there is no evidence of systematic compromise of the election’s integrity.
President Isaac Herzog has called for investigations into reported irregularities while warning against making accusations against the wider Arab community.
What Happens Next?
The responsibility for forming the next government now moves into a period of political negotiations.
President Isaac Herzog is expected to consult political party leaders before deciding whom to invite to form the government.
The main possibilities include:
- Netanyahu attempting to expand his existing right-wing coalition.
- Eisenkot negotiating with smaller parties to build a governing majority.
- Parliamentary cooperation with Arab-led parties becoming part of the opposition’s strategy.
- A prolonged political deadlock if neither camp can secure sufficient support.
The new Knesset is scheduled to be sworn in on November 10, 2026, although coalition negotiations could continue beyond that date.
A New Chapter in Israeli Politics
Israel’s 2026 election has produced a complicated parliamentary situation. Netanyahu’s bloc has finished ahead of its rivals, but its 53 seats are insufficient to guarantee another term in government.
Eisenkot’s opposition alliance also faces the challenge of assembling a workable majority. Meanwhile, the Arab-led parties’ historic 19-seat performance has given them a potentially decisive role in determining the country’s political future.
The coming weeks will reveal whether Israel can form a new coalition government or faces another prolonged period of political uncertainty.
For now, the election has delivered no clear parliamentary majority, and the next government may depend on negotiations with the very parties that have traditionally remained outside Israel’s main governing coalitions.
