Israel's Knesset election leaves Netanyahu and Eisenkot blocs short of a majority

Israel held elections for the 120-seat Knesset (parliament) on 27 October 2026. The vote was a direct contest between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing bloc and an opposition bloc backing Gadi Eisenkot, the former army chief of staff who leads the Yashar party.

With the count complete, Netanyahu's camp had about 53 seats and Eisenkot's camp about 48, according to reports. Neither came close to the 61 seats needed for a majority. Netanyahu's bloc had held far more seats in the previous Knesset. Turnout among Arab voters was high, and the two Arab parties, the Joint List and Raam, together won a significant share of the opposition's seats. Both leaders had ruled out governing with the Arab parties before the vote.

The result meant that neither side could form a government right away. Coalition talks and the role of President Isaac Herzog, who assigns the task of forming a government, became central. Netanyahu also disputed aspects of the outcome, while election officials said there was no basis for claims of systematic violations.