Israel's election has ended without a clear winner, with final results leaving both main blocs short of the 61 seats needed for a governing majority in the 120-seat Knesset. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing bloc, led by his Likud party, finished ahead with 53 seats, while the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party took 48 seats, according to results published by Israel's Central Elections Committee. Likud remains the largest single party, with 27 seats, followed by Yashar on 21, but neither side can form a government on its own.

The result marks a sharp fall for the outgoing coalition, which held 68 seats before the vote, and it leaves Israel facing weeks or possibly months of coalition talks. Turnout was high, at 77.9 per cent, with more than 5.7 million ballots cast. Until a coalition is agreed, Netanyahu remains in office in a caretaker capacity.

Why the Arab parties now hold leverage

The balance of power rests largely with the two Arab lists, the Joint List and Ra'am, which together won 19 seats — close to their share of the electorate and nearly double their showing in 2022. That leaves neither Jewish-led bloc able to reach 61 without either their support or defections from the other side. Some opposition leaders have ruled out a government depending on the Arab parties, while Eisenkot has ruled out sitting with Netanyahu.

What to watch next

The coming days will show whether the president's consultations produce a candidate with a realistic path to 61, or whether talks stall and the country drifts towards a fresh vote within the 12-week window available to party leaders. For voters, the central question is no longer who won the most seats, but who can assemble a coalition stable enough to govern.