Knesset Stalemate: Neither Bloc Secures Governing Majority

Israelis spent Thursday awaiting final tallies that confirm a hung parliament, with neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor his opponents holding a clear path to power.

Final results were expected by Thursday evening after the counting of approximately 500,000 absentee ballots cast by military personnel, diplomats, and patients. Local media projections indicate Netanyahu’s bloc holds 53 seats, opposition parties hold 48, and Arab-led parties hold 19, falling short of the 61 seats required for a governing majority in the 120-seat Knesset.

Former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, Netanyahu’s main rival, stated on Thursday that the new government must reflect the will of the people and serve all citizens. While he previously avoided mentioning cooperation with Arab-led parties, he indicated openness to working with them to reach the necessary threshold. The Joint List responded to their strong performance by calling for political cooperation, describing the election result as an unprecedented display of strength by voters willing to challenge historical discrimination.

Netanyahu’s Likud party, which received the most votes, has accused Arab-led parties of stealing the election and requested an investigation from the election committee. The party provided no specific evidence for its claims, and the committee noted that irregularities in the generally calm vote were few. This dispute adds tension to the weeks ahead, where parties must decide whether to form a historic Jewish-Arab alliance or if pro-Netanyahu factions will drop their opposition goals to join his government.

President Isaac Herzog will task an individual with forming a government next week, a role traditionally given to the leader of the largest party but not constitutionally mandated. Both Herzog and Eisenkot expressed a desire to avoid a repeat election, which would occur if coalition talks fail. A new vote would test whether the high turnout among Arab citizens and overseas Israelis would recur, given the political stakes of the current term.

The election results reflect deep divisions within Israeli society, particularly between secular and religious voters and between Jewish and Arab citizens. Key issues include the exemption of the growing ultra-Orthodox population from compulsory military service and the fate of hostages in Gaza. Netanyahu, the longest-serving prime minister, faces corruption charges and criticism for delaying Gaza deals for political gain. The outcome also carries implications for regional stability, as the Trump administration has linked potential strikes on Iran to the U.S. midterm elections scheduled for November 3.

Arab citizens, who comprise 20 percent of the population, expressed cautious optimism about their influence in the new government. Brosli Elias of Nazareth stated that they hope to secure rights and a place in the administration. Meanwhile, uncertainty remains regarding potential military actions against Iran and the timing of the public inquiry into the October 7, 2023 attack, which Netanyahu has long sought to delay.