Initial results of the Israeli elections held on October 27, 2026, show that the bloc led by Benjamin Netanyahu is in the lead with 54 seats. As the vote count reaches 76.8%, the opposing bloc holds 47 seats in second place. The Arab party, United List (Ra'am), has also gained two new seats, bringing its total to 19 seats.
Need for coalition to form government
Both main blocs have not yet reached the 61 seats required to form a majority in the Knesset. Yair Golan, leader of the Democratic Party, has urged coalition partners in the opposition to be ready to cooperate with Arab parties to gain a majority. He stated, "We can no longer accept the racial division of votes that Netanyahu has created."
Read more: Voter turnout in Israel reaches a 53-year high
Currently, Arab parties have secured about 16 seats in the ongoing count, and the opposing bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot has reached 48 seats. This means that a coalition between them could achieve the necessary majority in the Knesset.
Security and political implications
In his speech following the initial results, Netanyahu emphasized his determination to form a right-wing government and stated that he is still awaiting the actual results. He also criticized cooperation with Arab parties and declared that Israel must establish a strong right-wing government.
Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the opposing bloc, also called for Netanyahu's resignation, stating that the election results reflect a complete lack of trust in him and his coalition. He emphasized that "a worthy leader must accept the demands of the people" and warned of the danger of holding new elections.
Eisenkot stated that he seeks to form a government committed to military service for all Israelis and added: "We must represent all Israelis." He also warned Netanyahu not to make important security decisions without political legitimacy.
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