Netanyahu’s Likud party secured 26 seats within his 53-seat bloc, while Gadi Eisenkot’s opposition bloc fell short at 48 seats. Arab-majority parties surged to a historic 19 seats following an estimated 80 percent voter turnout among Palestinian citizens of Israel. Both primary camps campaigned against partnering with Arab politicians, and Netanyahu subsequently made unsubstantiated claims that the election was stolen by them. The fractured math leaves independent factions like Naftali Bennett’s Together party, which holds 12 seats, attempting to navigate a potential unity government.
Key points
Neither major bloc can achieve the required 61-seat majority without crossing previously…: Neither major bloc can achieve the required 61-seat majority without crossing previously stated campaign red lines regarding potential partners.
Both Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot explicitly ruled out forming a coalition alongs…: Both Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot explicitly ruled out forming a coalition alongside Arab-majority political factions during their campaigns.
Naftali Bennett is aiming to assemble a unity administration after his Together party pro…: Naftali Bennett is aiming to assemble a unity administration after his Together party projected a total of 12 seats.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
From Netanyahu to Ben-Gvir, campaign boasts and attacks on Arab parties have been met with a deadlocked result.
Israel’s parliamentary election on Tuesday produced no clear winner, with nearly 90 percent of ballots counted and both major political blocs falling short of the 61 seats needed to form a government.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc is on course to win 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset, while the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot is expected to secure 48 seats.
The Arab-majority parties won 19 seats, a historic high, driven by record turnout among Palestinian citizens of Israel of about 80 percent. That has placed the Arab parties at the centre of coalition arithmetic, even as several party leaders ruled out governing with them.
So what did the main contenders say in the run-up to and during the vote, and how did they fare? Here is a look:
Benjamin Netanyahu, Likud: Elections ‘stolen by Arab parties’
Pre-election: In the build-up to the election, Netanyahu expressed confidence, telling The Jerusalem Post on October 22, “I’m gonna have five more terms.”
The promotion of the Jerusalem Development Authority at a major international trade show directly challenges recent British foreign policy commitments regarding occupied territories. The statutory agency faces extensive international criticism for driving municipal projects that displace Palestinian families in East Jerusalem. Its presence alongside corporate partners highlights ongoing controversies surrounding international commercial platforms hosting entities tied to contested land developments.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky demanded a swift response from international allies and firmly rejected any easing of sanctions against Moscow following the devastating assault. The daytime bombardment targeted critical transport links as commuter and passenger trains were actively boarding, reflecting a broader escalation aimed at crippling Ukraine's rail network and energy infrastructure ahead of winter.
Critical medical care remains inaccessible inside the enclave as local health officials warn of a massive backlog of individuals requiring immediate specialized intervention. Officials are pressing Israeli authorities to reopen the vital southern border terminal so that vulnerable individuals can travel outside for life-saving assistance. Without open transit routes, thousands of residents face severe health complications.