Israel election leaves Netanyahu bloc short of majority

· Politics · Israel

With more than 85% of ballots counted, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud-led bloc was projected to win 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset, short of the 61 needed for a majority, while the opposition bloc led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot was projected at 48. Turnout was the highest in decades, and Arab-majority parties were set for a historic 19 seats. President Isaac Herzog urged parties to do everything possible to avoid another election, and coalition talks loom, with Netanyahu still holding a possible path to power through rivals. Israeli bonds and the shekel fell as the result left no clear majority; experts say a caretaker government could still retain powers including on Iran.

Why it matters：A deadlocked Israel with a caretaker premier leaves the country's war policy and coalition future uncertain at a moment of heightened regional tension.

Key points

  • Arab-majority parties were projected to win 19 seats, a historic high.
  • President Herzog warned against another round of elections.
  • The shekel and Israeli bonds weakened after exit polls.

Sources (original reporting)

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