Israelis Await Final Knesset Counts
Projections show no clear majority, leaving coalition talks between rival blocs and Arab parties as the next hurdle.
By Luka Evans ·
Israelis waited on Thursday for final election results to confirm a fragmented outcome in the Knesset. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies are projected to fall short of a majority, as is the opposition seeking to unseat him.
Local media estimates place Netanyahu's bloc at 53 seats, opposition parties at 48, and Arab-led lists at 19. The 120-seat parliament requires 61 seats to form a governing majority. Final counts are expected as early as Thursday evening after approximately 500,000 absentee ballots are tallied. These votes come from military personnel, diplomats, and individuals in hospitals or prisons. Officials do not expect the absentee count to change the overall distribution of seats.
Gadi Eisenkot, the former military chief and Netanyahu's main rival, addressed supporters early Wednesday. In his first public statement since then, he spoke of forming a government that serves all citizens. He has indicated openness to partnering with Arab-led parties to reach the required majority. The Joint List, an Arab coalition, stated late Wednesday that it is open to political cooperation. It cited an 'unprecedented show of strength' and Jewish voters willing to support such an alliance.
Small rallies held overnight in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem voiced support for a coalition including Arab parties. No Arab party has joined a government since 2021, and that tenure was brief. Netanyahu's Likud party, which received the most votes, accused Arab-led lists of stealing the election. The party asked the election committee to investigate but provided no specific evidence. The committee stated that reported irregularities in the relatively calm vote were low.
President Isaac Herzog will task a figure with forming the next government next week. While this has traditionally gone to the leader of the largest party, it is not a strict requirement. Herzog signaled on Wednesday that he wishes to avoid a new election. Eisenkot has expressed a similar preference. A failed attempt to form a government would trigger another vote early next year.
The political division extends to deep societal issues. The country is split over whether the ultra-Orthodox population should remain exempt from compulsory military service. This debate follows three years of inconclusive wars in which many families lost members to combat. Netanyahu, the longest-serving prime minister, faces corruption allegations and accusations that he delayed Gaza deals for political gain. International criticism of the treatment of Palestinians in Gaza and settler violence in the West Bank also pressures the new leadership.
For Arab citizens, who comprise 20% of the population, the election results offer cautious hope. Brosli Elias, a resident of Nazareth, said, 'God willing, we will have something for us in the government, something that will bring us our rights.' External factors also influence the timeline. The Trump administration has discussed new strikes against Iran after the November 3 midterm elections. Experts suggest Netanyahu could use renewed conflict to push for a unity government under his control.
Such a move could delay a public inquiry into security failures during the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. That event sparked the current war and remains a central point of contention. The threat of further strikes against Iran adds to the uncertainty surrounding the formation of the next cabinet.
