Israel's election results leave Netanyahu and Eisenkot without clear majority
Preliminary counts show Likud and the centrist Yashar bloc falling short of the 61 seats needed to form a government, while Arab-led parties gain a historic share of the vote.
Preliminary results from Israel's parliamentary election indicate that neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud bloc nor centrist former military chief Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar bloc are likely to reach the 61 seats required for a governing majority in the 120-seat Knesset. Local media projections estimate 53 seats for Likud and its allies, 48 for Yashar and its partners, and 19 for Arab-led parties.
Voter turnout reached about 78 percent, the highest since 1999, with 85 percent of votes counted at the time of reporting. Netanyahu's Likud secured roughly 20.8 percent of the vote, down from 23.4 percent in the 2022 election, while Eisenkot's Yashar obtained about 16.1 percent.
Netanyahu reiterated his refusal to join a coalition that includes Arab-led parties, describing such a prospect as unacceptable. In contrast, Eisenkot said his bloc would consider partnering with Arab parties if they recognize Israel as a Jewish state and condemn Hamas as an extremist organization.
President Isaac Herzog said the priority is to avoid another round of elections, noting that the president may task the leader of the largest party with forming a government but is not obligated to do so.
Analysts note that a coalition could emerge if Eisenkot secures support from Arab-led parties, which captured roughly 14.9 percent of the counted vote, though political conditions remain challenging. If no coalition is formed, Israel could face a repeat election early next year, echoing the series of elections held between 2019 and 2022.
"We must do everything we can, certainly after yesterday, to avoid another round of elections," President Herzog said.
"In a speech early Wednesday that focused on national unity, Eisenkot pledged to form a government and promised 'a new era — an era of hope.'",
"We have no future here if we do not stop being afraid," Yair Golan of the Democrats party said, advocating for Arab-led parties to be included in a coalition.
The election outcome reflects public unease over Netanyahu's alliance with far-right partners and concerns about military draft exemptions for ultra-orthodox Jews, while also highlighting the growing electoral influence of Arab-led parties.