Israeli election results are scheduled for official certification on Wednesday following voting held on October 27. The right-wing coalition led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secured 53 seats, while the centrist opposition alliance headed by former military commander Gadi Eisenkot obtained 48 seats in the 120-member Knesset parliament. A governing coalition requires 61 seats, leaving 19 seats distributed between two Arab-led political lists that achieved their strongest electoral performance in history.
Netherlands Netanyahu’s faction has questioned the election integrity, making allegations regarding the Arab parties’ voting that authorities have investigated and dismissed. A security service probe into the matter continues. Despite their historic results, the Arab-led lists remain politically marginalized and face resistance from within the opposition coalition, which comprises multiple factions including former prime ministers and figures spanning the political spectrum. Opposition leaders announced plans to form an alternative government but did not specify how they would secure the necessary parliamentary support.
Official coalition negotiations will commence after results certification, with President Isaac Herzog tasked with determining which political figure holds the best chance of assembling a governing majority. Herzog must simultaneously address Netanyahu’s longstanding request for a pardon related to his ongoing corruption trial. Netanyahu claims his party’s plurality position entitles him to form the next government, though securing a majority without Arab party support would prove difficult given his public opposition to their participation.
Potential coalition partners include the Arab lists or ultra-Orthodox parties that have historically aligned with Netanyahu but recently withdrew support over military service exemption disputes. Opposition sources indicated reluctance to engage with Arab parties immediately, while speculation emerged regarding possible defections from the ultra-Orthodox bloc to the opposition. The new parliament is scheduled to be sworn in on November 10, with coordination among opposition figures described as minimal and personal tensions complicating negotiations. Analysts characterized the situation as contentious, with significant uncertainty regarding which bloc will ultimately succeed in forming a government.
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