Israeli vote count shows no path to 61-seat majority

Israel’s election results have left no single leader with a clear path to power as the official vote count begins. Neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor his main rival, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, has reached the 61 seats required for a governing majority in the 120-seat parliament. This stalemate forces a complex period of coalition building that could take several days to resolve.

Netanyahu’s political coalition has suffered a sharp decline in projected support. Projections from the Central Election Committee indicate his bloc will drop from 68 seats in the outgoing Knesset to 56 seats. Despite this loss, his Likud party remains the largest single party in the legislature. Netanyahu addressed supporters in Jerusalem, claiming his group holds a decisive majority among the Zionist and Jewish public while rejecting the idea of forming a government with Arab parties.

The opposition faces its own structural challenges despite a clear numerical advantage over Netanyahu’s camp. Parties opposed to the current prime minister are on track for approximately 65 seats, according to latest projections. However, this group is divided across right, left, and center factions. To remove Netanyahu from power, these parties likely must negotiate with Arab representatives, a move that has created tension within the opposition ranks.

Arab parties have achieved their highest level of representation in the country's history. The Joint List and Raam are projected to secure a combined 19 seats, a record high for these groups. Leader Yousef Jabareen described the voter turnout as unprecedented and historic. This surge was driven by a desire to end the current right-wing government, with chants heard at party headquarters demanding the removal of specific ministers.

Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party is projected to win between 21 and 23 seats. Eisenkot stated that the public has voted for change and pledged to use all available power to establish a new government. He has set conditions for coalition partners, including recognizing Israel as a Jewish state and designating Hamas as a terrorist organization. These terms may complicate negotiations with Arab allies, as some opposition leaders have already ruled out cooperation with Arab parties.

The election saw the highest voter turnout since 1999. Nearly 5.7 million voters cast ballots out of approximately 7.3 million eligible citizens, resulting in a 77.7 percent participation rate. The president will now select one candidate, likely Eisenkot, to form a government. This candidate has four to six weeks to build a viable coalition before a new election may be required.

US President Donald Trump offered a preliminary assessment of the results without speaking directly to Netanyahu. Trump suggested that exit polls might be wrong, noting that top figures in Israel were saying Netanyahu performed better than expected. He described the potential outcome as either a stalemate or a win, adding that the final determination would come as the vote count is finalized.