Israel’s election has produced no clear winner. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud-led alliance won 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset. That is eight short of the 61 needed to form a government.
The final count came out early on Friday. It shows the alliance has lost ground. It won 64 seats in the 2022 election.
The main opposition bloc, led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, took 48 seats. Two Arab parties together won 19 seats. That is their best showing in any Israeli election.
Neither side can govern alone. Analysts expect weeks of tough coalition talks and a possible long deadlock.
The Central Elections Committee said minor corrections may still be made in the coming days. It will formally submit the final count to President Isaac Herzog on November 4. Parties have until November 18 to file complaints or legal challenges.
Herzog will then meet party leaders. He will decide who has the best chance of building a coalition. Assaf Shapira of the Israel Democracy Institute said Eisenkot is likely to get the first chance.
Under Israeli law and past practice, the leader with the most recommendations from party heads normally goes first.
