Israel Political Crisis Deepens as Neither Netanyahu nor Opposition Secures Clear Majority

Israel’s election count points to a political deadlock, with Netanyahu’s bloc at 53 seats and the combined opposition at 67, according to Ynet. Could Arab parties help the opposition reach the 61-seat majority mark?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces an uncertain path to government as election results leave his bloc short of a parliamentary majority and coalition negotiations loom. (Images: X)

Tel Aviv: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing a challenging political battle as the latest vote count indicates that his bloc has failed to secure a parliamentary majority. According to Ynet, with 85.6% of votes counted across 93% of polling stations, Netanyahu’s camp stands at 53 seats, while the bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot holds 48 seats. Arab parties have secured 19 seats, taking the combined opposition tally to 67.

Netanyahu Short of Majority Mark

The 120-member Knesset requires at least 61 seats to form a majority government. Neither of the two principal political camps has independently reached that threshold, raising the prospect of difficult coalition negotiations and a prolonged political deadlock.

The Central Elections Committee has finished counting ballots from regular polling stations. Double-envelope ballots, including votes from soldiers and other eligible voters outside their designated polling stations, remain to be counted and could alter the final seat distribution.

Opposition Leader Calls for Unity

Democrats leader Yair Golan has urged the Eisenkot-led opposition to join forces with Arab parties to cross the majority threshold. Whether such an arrangement can translate into a functioning government remains uncertain.

Exit Polls Shift Overnight

Initial exit-poll projections had favoured the opposition, but revised estimates later indicated a narrow advantage for Netanyahu’s bloc. Israel’s Channel 12 projected 52 seats for Netanyahu’s camp against 49 for Eisenkot and allied parties, highlighting how uncertain the contest remains.

High Turnout in Crucial Election

Nearly 77.7% of eligible voters participated in the election, according to the figures provided. The vote is particularly significant as Israel’s first general election since the Hamas-led October 2023 attack.  Israel uses proportional representation to elect members of the Knesset. Parties must cross a 3.25% electoral threshold, while forming a majority government requires 61 seats.