On November 4, Israel’s Central Elections Committee announced the official tally of last week’s parliamentary election, revealing that opposition parties collectively won 67 of the 120 seats in the new Knesset, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling bloc captured 53. The breakdown shows former military chief Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party took 48 seats, and the Arab‑led coalition, including the Joint List and the Muslim Ra’am party, secured 19 seats. With neither side reaching the 61‑seat threshold for a majority, the new government will require additional support from outside the two main blocs.
Noam Sohlberg, the committee’s chairman and a Supreme Court Justice, presented the results to President Isaac Herzog. According to Israeli law, Herzog will begin an intensive consultation process with political parties that night to identify a candidate to form the next Knesset. Herzog urged all parties to “compromise on their election promises to avoid another election and enable the formation of a stable government,” adding that “in the current reality, in which there is no clear winner after the election, I ask for originality and creativity, courage and goodwill.”
Despite a concurrent investigation into suspected foreign interference, Sohlberg stated that the allegations remained unproven and did not justify delaying the announcement. He warned that “voices have emerged seeking to cast doubt on the election results and challenge their validity; this is a real danger.” He also emphasized that the election had been conducted properly and the results reflected the will of voters.
The Yashar party, led by Eisenkot, is expected to play a pivotal role in the coalition negotiations due to its vote share. Its 48 seats, combined with the Arab parties’ 19, position it as a potential power broker. Both Netanyahu and Eisenkot still need to secure alliances to cross the majority threshold, making the coalition process uncertain.
The president’s upcoming deliberations will determine which lawmaker, whether a new leader from the opposition or an alternative figure, will be tasked with forming the government. Both sides have called for “compromise, creativity, courage and goodwill,” yet it remains unclear whether they can reconcile their divergent platforms within a single cabinet.
Meanwhile, the investigation into alleged foreign interference continues to loom over the political landscape. No definitive evidence has surfaced, and the allegations have yet to alter the official results. As a result, current uncertainties revolve around the final coalition composition, policy compromises required to secure majority support, and the outcome of the interference inquiry.
