Israel Election: Arab Parties Projected to Win Record 19 Seats but May Not Be 'Kingmakers'
With most votes counted, Netanyahu’s bloc is projected to win about 54 seats and Eisenkot’s about 48, leaving Arab parties with the balance of power.
- Israelis turned out in record numbers on Tuesday, with about 77% casting ballots in a consequential election that left no clear winner between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot.
- Arab-Led parties, including the Joint List, are poised to hold the balance of power with a potential record 19 seats in the Knesset, up from 10 in the outgoing parliament.
- Netanyahu and Eisenkot face significant hurdles to forming a coalition due to deep ideological differences, and neither leader is eager to work with Arab-led parties to secure the required 61 lawmakers.
- Arie Kacowicz, a professor at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, suggests Eisenkot could present a minority government requiring active support from at least one Arab-led party in the Knesset.
- Official results will likely not be complete until Friday, leaving Israel facing potential deadlock echoing the five elections held between 2019 and 2022 over similar coalition disputes.
48 Articles
48 Articles
RECIT - Benyamin Netanyahu, first in the Knesset, did not reach the majority. Gadi Eisenkot will find it difficult to form a government without the support of the Arab parties.
Israel Election Results 2026: Three possible scenarios emerge if no bloc secures a majority in the Knesset
Israel’s parliamentary election has produced a political deadlock, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc and the opposition led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot falling short of the 61 seats required to form a majority government. According to the latest reports, Netanyahu’s Likud party is projected to win 27 seats, while Eisenkot’s Yashar party is expected to secure 22. The bloc supporting Netanyahu stands at 54 seats, compared wi…
'Most Likely Outcome Is A Netanyahu-Eisenkot Alliance': Yeshayah Roselman
In an interview discussing the hung verdict in the Israeli Knesset elections, senior researcher Yeshayah Roselman analyzed coalition possibilities for Benjamin Netanyahu after his right-wing alliance fell short of the 61-seat majority. Roselman argued that an alliance with Arab parties is unviable and ruled out a minority government, stating, "the most likely outcome will be that Netanyahu, uh, will be, will remain prime minister with a unity go…
Bedouins on camels, queues around the block: How the Arab vote shook Israel
Voter turnout among Israel’s Arab citizens has soared to unprecedented levels. In an election that has left Israel’s prime minister struggling to assemble a governing majority, the voters he has spent years alienating now hold the key to his political future. But Nicole Lampert explores whether Arab parties will be allowed to turn their votes into power
Parliamentary paralysis leaves control of the negotiation process to President Isaac Herzog.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 47% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
