Knesset News & Analysis

Israel Vote: Netanyahu Bloc Wins 53 Seats, Faces Coalition Hurdle

Israel's final election results show Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing bloc won 53 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, short of the 61 needed to form a government. This is a decline from 64 seats in 2022. The main opposition alliance, led by Gadi Eisenkot, secured 48 seats but also fell short of a majority. The election outcome is set to cause weeks of coalition negotiations and political uncertainty. Opposition parties mostly reject cooperation with the Arab-led parties, which won a combined 19 seats, an all-time high for those groups. Netanyahu's faction has claimed, without evidence, that Arab-led parties "stole" the election and alleged foreign interference aimed at affecting the vote. Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg has asked the Shin Bet security agency to investigate suspicions of improper foreign influence, though no proof has been found. Qatar has denied accusations of election interference. Final results may undergo minor corrections before certification. The Knesset is scheduled to be sworn in on November 10, with challenges to the results allowed until November 18. This political impasse means Netanyahu may remain caretaker prime minister during extended coalition talks or another election. Such uncertainty affects government formation and future policy-making in Israel, highlighting risks for stability and investor consideration of political factors.