Israel's 2026 Election Results: No Majority for Any Bloc
Election Outcome Overview
File image of Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu(Photo: @SUDHIRb9661/X)
Jerusalem, Oct 30: The recent elections in Israel have resulted in no political bloc achieving a parliamentary majority in the 26th Knesset. The Central Elections Committee (CEC) announced the final results on Friday, revealing that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud-led coalition secured 53 seats, while the opposition bloc, led by Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party, obtained 48 seats. Arab factions accounted for the remaining 19 seats.
This outcome signifies a notable reduction in Netanyahu's coalition strength, which previously held 68 seats in the outgoing Knesset, as reported by The Times of Israel.
The official results are set to be presented to Israeli President Isaac Herzog on November 4, following the CEC's final checks for any discrepancies or complaints.
President Herzog will then engage in discussions with each party leader, who will propose their preferred candidate to establish the next government.
Despite the challenges in forming a government, the newly elected Knesset is scheduled to be sworn in on November 10.
Reports indicate that the process of forming the next government may be complex and could take over two months, as neither political faction is close to achieving the 61 seats necessary for a parliamentary majority.
The voter turnout for this election was recorded at 77.9%, marking the highest participation rate in decades.
On Wednesday, Herzog urged political leaders to strive to avoid another election, encouraging those involved in government formation discussions to approach the situation with an open mindset.
“We must do everything we can, certainly after yesterday, to avoid another round of elections. So I expect everyone who comes here to come with an open mind,” Herzog was quoted as saying by The Times of Israel.
Both Netanyahu and Eisenkot have expressed their intentions to lead the formation of the next government.
Earlier this week, at the Likud election headquarters in Jerusalem, Netanyahu told supporters that the right wing held a “great majority” among Israel’s “Zionist public” and called for the establishment of a “strong right-wing government.”
He also criticized parties that are willing to collaborate with Arab factions, labeling such arrangements as a “shame.”
The elections on Tuesday were the first since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, reflecting significant changes in the political landscape and the evolving priorities of voters since the 2022 elections.