Israel’s final election results confirmed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc lost its parliamentary majority, with Arab-led parties securing a historic 19 seats and emerging as potential kingmakers in the negotiations to form a new government.
The results released early Friday showed Netanyahu’s bloc won 53 seats in Tuesday’s elections. The main opposition bloc led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot won 48. Arab-led parties secured the other 19 — a historic showing for a community that makes up 20% of Israel’s population. Parties now must negotiate to reach at least 61 seats in the 120-seat Knesset.
Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, remains in charge as caretaker until a new government is formed.
“Now comes the truly hard part,” centrist politician Yair Lapid said on X, asking Israelis for patience.
The Numbers
Final results showed Likud, Netanyahu’s party, winning 27 seats. Eisenkot’s Yashar party won 21. The Arab-led parties split between the leftist Joint List with 11 seats and the Islamist Ra’am with 8.
Netanyahu’s bloc includes the ultra-Orthodox parties United Torah Judaism (7 seats) and Shas (6), along with the ultranationalist Jewish Power (7) and Religious Zionism (6). The opposition bloc includes Yesh Atid (12), The Democrats (8), and Yisrael Beiteinu (7).
The Coalition Math
Neither bloc can govern without support from outside its own camp. Netanyahu needs eight more seats for a majority; Eisenkot needs thirteen. The Arab parties, which have ruled out partnering with Netanyahu, could theoretically give Eisenkot a 67-seat coalition — but most of his Jewish allies have vowed not to sit with them.
Only once has an Arab party joined a governing coalition, in 2021, and that government lasted about 18 months.
Netanyahu has portrayed any such alliance as a betrayal of Israel’s Jewish identity. In his first public comment Friday, he posted on X asserting it is forbidden to form a coalition with Arab parties.
The Fraud Allegations
In the hours before final results were announced, Netanyahu and his Likud party amplified unsubstantiated allegations that Arab-led parties had “stolen” the election, potentially with foreign assistance. The opposition accused Netanyahu of demonizing the Arab population, which showed up at the polls in record numbers in outrage over his far-right allies like National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, whose party lost seats.
The head of Israel’s election committee, Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, said “serious suspicions” of foreign interference had been brought before him and asked the Shin Bet security agency to investigate. Israeli media reported that members of Netanyahu’s party were accusing Qatar — which issued a denial calling the allegations “ridiculous and dangerous”.
The election commission said the investigation was based on classified intelligence and did not affect the final results. The Shin Bet said its investigation was not meant to “cast aspersions” on an entire section of the population that “exercised its right to vote in a democratic and lawful manner”.
What Happens Next
The results must be certified and submitted to President Isaac Herzog next Wednesday. Herzog will then task someone — likely Netanyahu, whose party won the most seats, or whoever party leaders believe is best suited — with forming a government. If multiple attempts fail, Israel faces a new election early next year.
Netanyahu’s allies have reportedly floated a unity government with Eisenkot, possibly through a rotation agreement where Eisenkot would serve as prime minister for part of the term. Eisenkot has given no indication he would accept.
Meanwhile, the new Knesset is expected to be sworn in on November 10. Once it convenes, Eisenkot’s bloc could join forces with the Arab parties to elect a new Knesset speaker, giving them control over the parliamentary agenda before a government is even formed.
The Bottom Line
Israel’s election confirmed Netanyahu’s bloc lost its majority, winning 53 seats to the opposition’s 48, with Arab parties securing a historic 19. Neither side can form a government without support from outside its camp. Netanyahu has ruled out partnering with Arab parties and faces fraud allegations he has amplified without evidence. Coalition negotiations begin as Israel braces for weeks of uncertainty — or another election.
My Opinion
Benjamin Netanyahu has spent his career telling Israelis that he alone can keep them safe. On Tuesday, a record number of Arab citizens voted against him. They did not do it because they love Eisenkot. They did it because they fear Ben-Gvir and the far-right ministers Netanyahu brought into his government. That is the irony of this election. Netanyahu’s survival strategy may have cost him his majority.
His response has been to amplify unsubstantiated claims that Arab voters stole the election. The head of the election committee has asked the Shin Bet to investigate. The Shin Bet has said it is not casting aspersions on an entire community. So as it stands, Netanyahu is alone in his accusations.
Israel may be heading toward another election. If it does, the question will be whether Netanyahu’s spell is finally broken. The Arab parties have shown they can shape the outcome. The opposition has shown it can win more seats than expected. And the prime minister has shown that when he loses, he does not accept the result.
