Israel’s general election has resulted in a familiar political impasse, with early returns suggesting that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party has performed better than anticipated, yet his right-wing bloc remains short of the 61-seat majority required to control the 120-seat Knesset. Analysts have cautioned that these preliminary figures may shift as the count progresses, noting that initial tallies were heavily influenced by regions with strong right-wing support.
Turnout for the election exceeded 77%, reflecting the high stakes of a contest that has left the country deeply divided. While Netanyahu’s coalition of ultra-nationalist and ultra-Orthodox parties seeks to retain power, his primary challenger, former army chief Gadi Eisenkot, faces significant hurdles in forming a majority without the support of Arab-led parties. These parties, representing a significant portion of the electorate, have seen strong turnout, with many voters viewing the election as a critical opportunity to challenge the current government’s policies.
Both leaders addressed their supporters overnight, though neither declared a definitive victory. Netanyahu stated, "The right-wing bloc has a clear, decisive majority among the Zionist public, among the Jewish public and all those who support the Jewish state. That is what has become clear. A decisive majority. We must form a strong, national, right-wing government. That is what must be done."
Conversely, Eisenkot claimed the public had signaled a desire for change. "The public has chosen change," he told his Yashar party. "The coalition of failure has lost the people's trust. The Israeli public voted against Benjamin Netanyahu continuing as prime minister. I will work with my partners to ensure that the people's decision is translated into a Zionist government: stable and good for all of Israeli's citizens. And quickly – because that is what this moment demands, and because the country needs to be brought back together."
Final results are not expected for several days, as officials must still process a large volume of absentee ballots, including those cast by Israeli soldiers. The political landscape remains complex, with veteran journalist Yaakov Katz noting that parties will now engage in intense negotiations to secure a coalition. "Each side will try to pull over defectors, or will try to see if they can make a minority government and will try all these different political kinds of wizardry," Katz observed. "But it might not work, and it could take weeks or months to see if someone is actually capable of forming a government."
A central question remains whether opposition parties will overcome long-standing taboos regarding cooperation with Arab-led factions. While many Jewish opposition figures previously ruled out such alliances, Mansour Abbas, leader of the Ra'am party, expressed optimism about potential collaboration. "These are familiar and well-known party-political considerations. All politicians in Israel say one thing before elections and speak a different language after elections," Abbas said. "We have experienced this before, and it does not concern us."
Once final results are certified, President Isaac Herzog will consult with party leaders to determine who is best positioned to form a government. If a candidate fails to secure a majority within six weeks, the mandate may pass to another, or the country could face the prospect of yet another election.
