Israeli Election Outcome Uncertain as Arab Voters Hold Key to Netanyahu’s Future

WHO:

DW.com - Raz Zimmt, head of the Iran program at the Institute for National Security Studies, said Israeli political factions differed only slightly on the Iranian threat.

DW.com - INSS senior fellow Danny Citrinovitcz said Israel’s Iran policy was unlikely to change fundamentally with the election outcome.

DW.com - Damon Golriz, a researcher at the Hague Institute for Geopolitics, described US-Israeli policy toward Iran as seeking leadership removal, infrastructure collapse, and a civil war.

DW.com - Navid Toobian of the Middle East Media Research Institute said the October 7 attack changed perceptions of Iran’s threat to Israel.

DW.com - President Trump endorsed Netanyahu as a “warrior prime minister” and warned that choosing anyone else would affect Israel’s alliance with Washington.

Ynetnews - Itamar Ben-Gvir said, “I remember that two Knesset terms ago, this party barely existed on the political map. After that, we fought for a single seat.”

The Hollywood Reporter - Filmmaker Avi Nesher said, “I do not share the government’s point of view at all. I’ll be one of those people who are not voting for this government.”

The Hollywood Reporter - Gal Gadot said she was voting for the Change bloc and urged Israelis to vote.

Ynetnews - Ben-Gvir said some people were discussing a unity government with Eisenkot “just two minutes after the exit polls were published,” despite Likud allies previously denying that possibility.

Ynetnews - Itamar Ben-Gvir said he hoped to form a right-wing government and said his party had “won the support of hundreds of thousands of citizens” as an independent party.

Israel National News - Amit Segal said the Israeli public had voted by a “significant majority” against Benjamin Netanyahu remaining in office and against his coalition.

CNN - President Isaac Herzog’s consultations take place in Jerusalem, where each elected party recommends its choice for prime minister.

CNN - Avigdor Liberman and Naftali Bennett ruled out forming a government with Arab parties.

CNN - Gadi Eisenkot said a “worthy leader” would accept the public’s no-confidence vote and retire from political life.

Ynetnews - National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said he opposed a unity government with Gadi Eisenkot, calling it “a government of paralysis.”

CNN - Israel’s President Isaac Herzog will conduct post-election consultations with elected parties and decide which candidate is most likely to form a 61-seat majority.

CNN - Joint List chairman Yousef Jabareen said, “We have proven that we are a political force that cannot be ignored.”

CNN - Raam chairman Mansour Abbas attributed Arab voters’ record-breaking electoral achievement to Itamar Ben-Gvir, Bezalel Smotrich, and the government’s neglect of the Israeli Arab community.

Israel National News - Channel 12 political commentator Amit Segal outlined potential post-election scenarios.

Israel National News - Segal said forming a government opposed to Benjamin Netanyahu could involve Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Liberman reversing campaign promises.

Newsweek - Arab-led parties could hold the deciding influence over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political future.

Boston.com News - The election was a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wartime leadership.

NY Post - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot were competing in the election.

Fox News - Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud and Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar were the main competing blocs.

WHAT:

The Hollywood Reporter - With more than 70% of votes counted, five of the six parties outside Netanyahu’s bloc were considered highly unlikely to join him, while the sixth was a toss-up.

The Hollywood Reporter - Gal Gadot flew from Los Angeles to vote, posted a video endorsing the Change bloc, and urged Israelis to vote; she said, “I’m always explaining to people. What you see there you don’t see here. And what you see here you don’t see there.”

Israel National News - Channel 12’s exit poll projected 52 seats for the Change bloc and seven for Ra’am, a combined 59; Amit Segal said gaining two seats could open a path to forming a government.

The Hollywood Reporter - With more than 70% of votes counted, the five parties outside Netanyahu’s bloc were considered highly unlikely to join him, while a sixth party’s position was uncertain.

The Hollywood Reporter - Gal Gadot’s election-night sketch aired on *Eretz Nehederet* while polls were still open; she appeared as an Israeli living in Los Angeles and spoke about explaining Israel to people abroad.

The Hollywood Reporter - *Our Loves* was released two weeks before the election and drew 150,000 admissions in Israel.

The Hollywood Reporter - *NAZA*, a documentary by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor featuring two dozen IDF whistleblowers, had not been released in Israel, but its subject had circulated in the Israeli press.

Ynetnews - Ben-Gvir said, “we demolished 10,000 illegal homes in the Negev,” and said he had delivered on a law imposing the death penalty on terrorists.

Ynetnews - Ben-Gvir said he had expanded the number of civilians permitted to carry firearms, intervened in police affairs, sought arrests of road-blocking protesters, blocked police officers’ promotions, and attempted to remove Tel Aviv District Police Commander Ami Eshed.

DW.com - The Financial Times reported that Israel’s military intended to attack Iranian nuclear facilities, government centers, and energy infrastructure around October 10; Trump opposed escalation before the US midterm elections on November 3. The Jerusalem Post later reported that the military had no specific directive for such an operation.

DW.com - Iranian security officials told Reuters that Iran had prepared retaliatory plans that included targeting undersea fiber-optic cables in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, as well as regional data centers and AI infrastructure dependent on the United States.

DW.com - Golriz said an Islamabad diplomatic framework included Iran agreeing not to initiate war or military operations against Israel; he said its provisions could provide a step toward lasting peace.

DW.com - Citrinovitcz said returning to a nuclear deal had no place in Israel’s political arena.

The Hollywood Reporter - With more than 70% of votes counted, Netanyahu’s bloc held a 54–47 Knesset-seat advantage over Eisenkot’s Change bloc; five of the six parties outside Netanyahu’s bloc were considered highly unlikely to join him, while the sixth was uncertain.

The Hollywood Reporter - The article reported that Gal Gadot said roughly 80% of Israelis voted.

BBC News - With 85% of ballots counted, Netanyahu’s Likud party and its allies were projected to win 53 seats in the 120-seat Knesset.

Fox News - With 70% of votes counted, Netanyahu’s Likud was leading, but his bloc still lacked a majority.

CNN - Channel 14’s exit poll projected Netanyahu’s bloc at 60 seats and Likud at 30 seats.

CNN - The three main Israeli television channels projected Netanyahu’s bloc at 51–52 seats, while opposition parties were projected at 68–70 seats.

CNN - Likud received fewer than 25% of the vote, according to the article.

Ynetnews - Netanyahu’s bloc was projected to fall from 64 seats to 50 seats.

BBC News - With 85% of votes counted, signs pointed to an impasse, and the article said new elections might be the likeliest outcome.

NY Post - Partial results showed Likud leading with 27% of the vote.

Fox News - With 70% of votes counted, Likud led, but three possible paths to forming a government remained.

Deadline - With well over half of the votes counted, Netanyahu’s Likud and right-wing bloc held a 54–47 Knesset-seat advantage over Gadi Eisenkot’s bloc, but Netanyahu still lacked a clear path to a 61-seat majority.

The Hollywood Reporter - Avi Nesher’s *Our Loves* was released two weeks before the election and had drawn 150,000 admissions in Israel.

The Hollywood Reporter - Gal Gadot appeared in an election-night sketch on *Eretz Nehederet* while polls were still open.

Bloomberg Markets - Israeli assets fell across the board amid concern that the election could produce a political stalemate.

The Hollywood Reporter - Avi Nesher’s film *Our Loves* drew 150,000 admissions in Israel.

The Hollywood Reporter - The documentary *NAZA*, by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, featured two dozen IDF whistleblowers discussing the government’s conduct of the Gaza war.

The Hollywood Reporter - Gal Gadot flew from Los Angeles to vote and appeared in an election-night sketch on Israeli television.

CNN - Palestinian citizens of Israel make up roughly 20 percent of the country’s population.

Ynetnews - Ben-Gvir said Otzma Yehudit had barely existed on the political map two Knesset terms earlier, then fought for a single seat before running independently.

Ynetnews - Ben-Gvir was first elected to the Knesset in 2021 after unsuccessful attempts; he initially ran on a joint electoral list with Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism party.

Deadline - With well over half of the votes counted, Netanyahu’s Likud Party and right-wing bloc and Eisenkot’s coalition appeared neck-and-neck.

Fox News - With 70% of votes counted, Likud was leading, but three possible paths to forming a government remained.

NY Post - Partial election results showed Likud leading with 27% of the vote, while Netanyahu’s bloc was projected to secure the most seats but lacked a clear path to a governing majority.

Ynetnews - Ben-Gvir said Palestinian security prisoners should not see their “summer camps” return and pledged to keep fighting against that outcome.

Israel National News - Segal said a government led by Gadi Eisenkot could require Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Liberman to break campaign promises, while a unity government could require parties to reverse their campaign commitments.

Israel National News - Segal said another election would run counter to the Israeli public’s wishes.

CNN - Netanyahu stopped short of declaring victory and called for a “strong national right-wing government”; Eisenkot said the “coalition of failure has lost the people’s trust.”

CNN - Netanyahu said Arab parties “oppose our very existence,” regard Hamas “as a charity organization,” and call Israeli soldiers “war criminals.”

CNN - CNN reported that crime and murder rates in Arab communities had risen dramatically during Ben-Gvir’s tenure as national security minister, with murders reaching unprecedented levels, according to Ynetnews.

CNN - CNN reported that Herzog might try to steer Netanyahu and Eisenkot toward a unity government, though Eisenkot had ruled out sitting with Netanyahu and the feasibility was unclear.

CNN - The opposition parties were divided across right, left and center, as well as between Jewish and Arab parties, complicating their route to forming a government.

CNN - Eisenkot set conditions for partners in a government, including recognition of Israel as a Jewish state and of Hamas as a terrorist organization that must be dismantled.

CNN - Netanyahu said the right-wing bloc had a “clear, decisive majority among the Zionist and Jewish public” and argued Israel should not have a government relying on Arab parties.

CNN - The final election count was expected to take a few days.

Ynetnews - Exit polls projected Ben-Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit party to win six seats on Channels 12 and 13, and seven on Kan 11; Ben-Gvir had hoped for a double-digit result.

Ynetnews - Ben-Gvir said Otzma Yehudit had won support from “hundreds of thousands of citizens” as an independent party.

Ynetnews - Ben-Gvir said his party had delivered on a law imposing the death penalty on terrorists and said, “we demolished 10,000 illegal homes in the Negev.”

CNN - Exit polls projected Netanyahu’s bloc at 51–52 seats, down from the 68-seat coalition in the outgoing Knesset; Likud was projected to win 25–27 seats.

CNN - Exit polls projected the opposition at 68–70 seats, while Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar was projected at 21–23 seats. Channel 14’s exit poll instead projected 60 seats for Netanyahu’s bloc and 30 for Likud.

CNN - The Joint List and Raam were projected to win 17–19 seats combined, their strongest showing in history.

CNN - Israel’s overall voter turnout was at least 77.7%, the highest since 1999; Arab parties reported turnout exceeding 75%.

CNN - Eisenkot said, “The Israeli public has voted against Netanyahu continuing to serve as prime minister”; Netanyahu called Likud Israel’s largest party and urged formation of a “strong national right-wing government.”

Israel National News - Segal identified three possible outcomes: a minority government, a unity government, or another election.

Israel National News - Channel 12’s exit poll projected the change bloc at 52 seats and Ra’am at seven, totaling 59 seats; Segal said a shift of two seats could open the possibility of forming a government.

Israel National News - Segal said even a single Knesset seat shifting could dramatically affect government formation.

CBS News Politics - The election could shape the future of the war with Iran, the Gaza Strip, and the United States’ relationship with the Middle East.

NY Post - Exit polls showed Netanyahu’s Likud lost seats and trailed challenger Gadi Eisenkot’s party.

NBC News Politics - Netanyahu’s opposition showed strength in the election but did not win power outright.

NBC News Politics - Coalition negotiations were expected to take likely weeks to determine who could form a government.

Newsweek - Exit polls showed both major political blocs short of a majority, leaving Arab-led parties potentially decisive.

Boston.com News - Exit polls suggested no clear winner; an inconclusive result could leave Israel in political limbo.

NY Post - Exit polls showed neither Netanyahu nor Eisenkot’s side had a majority of Knesset seats needed to form a government.

Fox News - Exit polls showed Likud and Yashar locked in a contest, with neither bloc reaching 61 Knesset seats.

WHERE:

Ynetnews - Ben-Gvir was active in the Kach movement, founded by Rabbi Meir Kahane, as a teenager.

CNN - Netanyahu addressed supporters at Likud headquarters in Jerusalem; Eisenkot spoke at his election headquarters in Tel Aviv.

Ynetnews - Ben-Gvir addressed party activists at Otzma Yehudit’s headquarters in Modi’in.

CBS News Politics - Matt Gutman reported from Tel Aviv.

NBC News Politics - NBC News Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel reported from Tel Aviv.

Boston.com News - The election took place in Israel.

NY Post - The election was for seats in Israel’s Knesset.

WHEN:

CNN - The candidate assigned to form a government has 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension; if the process fails, the mandate can pass to another candidate for four weeks.

WHY:

The Hollywood Reporter - The article said the government’s attempt to strip *NAZA* filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor of their citizenship may have backfired by making the government appear unwilling to accept criticism.

The Hollywood Reporter - The article said *Our Loves* may have affected voters by depicting security failures, including an absent army during the October 7 attacks, and implicitly criticizing the Netanyahu government.

DW.com - Zimmt said military escalation against Iran depended far more on the US president’s decision than on who became Israel’s prime minister.

DW.com - Golriz said October 7 intensified Israeli fears about Iran’s nuclear ambitions and threats; he called the attack a trigger for the current consensus on Iran.

The Hollywood Reporter - The article said discussion of *NAZA*—which had not been released in Israel—had circulated in the Israeli press, and the government’s citizenship-stripping threat against its filmmakers may have made it appear unwilling to accept criticism.

The Hollywood Reporter - The government’s reported effort to strip documentary filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor of citizenship may have made it appear unwilling to accept criticism.

The Hollywood Reporter - The Israeli government said it would attempt to strip *NAZA* filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor of their citizenship; the article said there was no known legal basis for doing so.

The Hollywood Reporter - *Our Loves* depicted security failures, including an absent army during the October 7 attacks; the article described the film as implicitly critical of the government.

The Hollywood Reporter - The government’s reported threat to strip *NAZA* filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor of their citizenship drew attention to criticism of the government.

Boston.com News - The vote followed the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023, and assessed Netanyahu’s leadership during wartime.

HOW:

The Hollywood Reporter - Gal Gadot posted a video from the polls saying she was voting for the Change bloc and urging Israelis to vote.

Bloomberg Markets - Vote counting was still underway, with results for Netanyahu’s and Eisenkot’s blocs trickling in.

CNN - After election results are certified, each elected party recommends a prime minister to the president; Herzog can assign the mandate to a candidate other than the largest party’s leader, based on his assessment of who can assemble a 61-seat majority.

Ynetnews - Ben-Gvir said he had expanded the number of civilians permitted to carry firearms, intervened in police affairs, sought to promote arrests of protesters blocking roads, blocked police officers’ promotions, and attempted to remove Tel Aviv District Police Commander Ami Eshed.

CNN - After consultations, Herzog assigns a candidate to form a government based on who he believes can assemble a 61-seat majority; if subsequent formation attempts fail, the Knesset has a short window to propose another candidate before another election is triggered.

Israel National News - Segal said the exit-poll picture could become clearer as more data came in.

Fox News - Israelis voted in record numbers.

Newsweek - Exit polls indicated that Arab-led parties could determine which side could form a government.

Fox News - The election outcome was assessed through exit polls measuring the blocs’ projected Knesset seats.

(UPDATED October 28, 2026 22:00 UTC)

Israel’s election has left Benjamin Netanyahu’s political future uncertain: early projections conflicted, and with most votes counted, his bloc led the opposition in Knesset seats but appeared short of a majority. Arab-led parties could hold the balance, while President Isaac Herzog is consulting elected parties to determine who is best placed to form a government; Itamar Ben-Gvir opposed a unity government, and other leaders ruled out joining with Arab parties. The vote also unfolded amid debate over Israel’s approach to Iran, with analysts saying the election was unlikely to bring a fundamental policy shift and President Trump publicly backing Netanyahu.

(UPDATED October 28, 2026 20:59 UTC)

With vote counts still underway, Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc was leading Gadi Eisenkot’s opposition, but early results showed no clear path to the 61 seats needed for a governing majority, leaving Israel’s election outcome uncertain. Itamar Ben-Gvir celebrated his party’s gains and pushed for a right-wing government, while Gal Gadot backed the Change bloc and President Isaac Herzog began consulting with elected parties on who could form a coalition. On Iran, analysts said Israel’s policy was unlikely to shift substantially with the election result, while President Trump endorsed Netanyahu and warned that choosing another leader could affect Israel’s alliance with Washington.

(UPDATED October 28, 2026 19:00 UTC)

With votes still being counted, Netanyahu’s Likud-led bloc held a narrow seat advantage over Gadi Eisenkot’s opposition bloc, but neither side had a clear path to the 61 seats needed to form a government, raising the prospect of a political stalemate. President Isaac Herzog is consulting with elected parties before deciding which candidate is best placed to assemble a majority, while Arab-led parties could have a decisive role. President Trump backed Netanyahu, but Israeli analysts said the election was unlikely to bring a fundamental shift in the country’s Iran policy.

(UPDATED October 28, 2026 17:59 UTC)

Early election results left Israel’s political future uncertain, with Netanyahu’s bloc leading Eisenkot’s opposition but falling short of the 61 seats needed for a majority. President Isaac Herzog is consulting elected parties on whom to recommend to form a government, while Ben-Gvir rejected a unity government with Eisenkot and said he hoped to form a right-wing coalition. Eisenkot said a worthy leader would accept the public’s no-confidence vote and retire, while Gal Gadot urged Israelis to vote and said she supported the Change bloc.

(UPDATED October 28, 2026 17:09 UTC)

Exit polls and partial results pointed to a divided Israeli election, with projections ranging from a narrow lead for Netanyahu’s bloc to a substantial opposition advantage, but neither side had a clear path to the 61 seats needed to govern. Netanyahu called for a strong right-wing government, while Gadi Eisenkot said the coalition had lost public trust; the opposition’s divisions and disagreements over a unity government further complicated negotiations. President Isaac Herzog will consult elected parties on whom they recommend for prime minister, while Ben-Gvir rejected a unity government with Eisenkot and said he hoped to form a right-wing coalition.

(UPDATED October 28, 2026 13:59 UTC)

With well over half the votes counted, Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud and right-wing bloc led Gadi Eisenkot’s opposition bloc, but neither had a clear path to the 61 seats needed to form a government. President Isaac Herzog is consulting elected parties on whom to recommend for prime minister, as Arab-led parties could hold decisive influence and political leaders remain divided over a unity government. Netanyahu called for a strong national right-wing government, while Eisenkot said the coalition had lost the public’s trust, and Itamar Ben-Gvir rejected a unity government with Eisenkot as one of paralysis.

(UPDATED October 28, 2026 13:02 UTC)

Israel’s election has left the path to a governing majority uncertain: early projections put Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc short of a clear majority, while opposition parties remain divided and Israeli assets fell amid fears of political stalemate. President Isaac Herzog is consulting elected parties and will choose the candidate he believes is most likely to form a 61-seat majority, as Netanyahu called for a right-wing government and Gadi Eisenkot said the public had voted against Netanyahu staying in office. Arab-led parties recorded a historic showing and could hold decisive influence, while Itamar Ben-Gvir rejected a unity government with Eisenkot and Gal Gadot urged Israelis to vote for the Change bloc.

(UPDATED October 28, 2026 11:58 UTC)

Israel’s election left Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc short of a clear path to a governing majority, while opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot’s camp also faced a complicated route to power. President Isaac Herzog is consulting elected parties and will decide which candidate is most likely to form a majority, as party leaders rule out potential partnerships and debate a unity government or another election. Arab-led parties recorded a historic showing and could hold decisive influence, while Itamar Ben-Gvir said he hoped to form a right-wing government and opposed joining forces with Eisenkot.

(UPDATED October 28, 2026 09:59 UTC)

Partial results showed Likud leading, but neither Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc nor the opposition had a clear path to the 61 seats needed for a majority, leaving Arab-led parties potentially decisive. Netanyahu called for a strong right-wing government, while opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot said voters had rejected Netanyahu’s continued leadership; both sides face difficult coalition talks, with another election also a possibility. President Isaac Herzog is consulting elected parties in Jerusalem to determine who is best positioned to form a government, as the divided opposition and parties’ refusals to join certain coalitions complicate negotiations.

(UPDATED October 28, 2026 08:59 UTC)

Exit polls showed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc and the opposition both short of the 61 seats needed for a majority, leaving Israel’s Arab-led parties potentially decisive in forming a government. President Isaac Herzog is consulting elected parties in Jerusalem and will choose the candidate most likely to assemble a majority, while opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot has ruled out joining a government with Netanyahu and other opposition figures have rejected relying on Arab parties. Netanyahu called for a strong right-wing government, while Eisenkot said voters had rejected Netanyahu’s continued leadership, and the divided political blocs now face difficult coalition negotiations.

(UPDATED October 28, 2026 08:03 UTC)

Israel’s election produced no clear path to a governing majority, with exit polls putting both major blocs short of the 61 seats needed and Arab-led parties potentially holding the balance of power. President Isaac Herzog is consulting elected parties before deciding which candidate is best placed to form a government, while the opposition remains divided and key figures have ruled out alliances or rejected a unity government. Turnout reached its highest level since 1999, and the final count and coalition negotiations could determine whether Israel gets a new government or heads toward another election.

(UPDATED October 28, 2026 07:01 UTC)

Israel’s election produced no clear winner, with exit polls projecting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc short of a majority and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot’s side also unable to reach the 61 seats needed to govern. Arab-led parties were projected to win a historic 17 to 19 seats combined, potentially making them decisive, while turnout reached its highest level since 1999. President Isaac Herzog will consult elected parties before choosing a candidate to form a government, and coalition negotiations could take weeks as politicians weigh a minority government, a unity deal, or another election.

(UPDATED October 28, 2026 04:59 UTC)

Exit polls showed neither Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc nor the opposition had the 61 seats needed to form a government, leaving Arab-led parties potentially decisive after a record-breaking turnout. Netanyahu’s Likud was projected to win 25 to 27 seats, while Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar was projected at 21 to 23; the Joint List and Raam were together projected to secure 17 to 19 seats, their strongest showing ever. President Isaac Herzog will consult elected parties before choosing who gets the first chance to form a government, with negotiations expected to take weeks and possible outcomes including a minority government, a unity government or another election.

(UPDATED October 28, 2026 03:59 UTC)

Exit polls in Israel’s election showed neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud-led bloc nor opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot’s side reaching the 61 seats needed to form a government, leaving Arab-led parties potentially decisive. The vote tested Netanyahu’s wartime leadership, and his opponents showed strength but did not secure power outright as coalition talks were expected to take weeks. Possible outcomes include a minority or unity government, or another election, with even a small shift in projected seats potentially changing the path to forming a government.

(UPDATED October 28, 2026 02:00 UTC)

Exit polls showed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud trailing Gadi Eisenkot’s opposition, but neither bloc won enough seats for a majority in Israel’s Knesset. Arab-led parties could hold the deciding influence, and coalition negotiations are expected to take weeks to determine who can form a government. The vote tested Netanyahu’s wartime leadership after the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023, and could shape the future of the war with Iran, Gaza, and Israel’s relationship with the United States.

(UPDATED October 28, 2026 01:17 UTC)

Exit polls in Israel’s election showed Gadi Eisenkot’s opposition gaining strength as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud lost seats, but neither side secured the 61 Knesset seats needed to form a government. The vote tested Netanyahu’s wartime leadership after the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023, and Arab-led parties could hold the balance of power. Coalition negotiations are expected to take weeks as the parties try to assemble a governing majority.

(UPDATED October 28, 2026 00:08 UTC)

Israel’s election left Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot’s blocs short of a majority, with exit polls showing neither had the 61 Knesset seats needed to form a government. The vote served as a referendum on Netanyahu’s wartime leadership following the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023. Arab-led parties could hold the deciding influence as coalition negotiations determine who can form a government.

(UPDATED October 27, 2026 22:09 UTC)

Israel’s election left Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar short of the 61 Knesset seats needed to form a government, according to exit polls. The vote was a referendum on Netanyahu’s wartime leadership following the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023. Arab-led parties could hold the deciding influence, while the inconclusive result risked leaving Israel in political limbo.