No bloc reaches 61 seats

Israel’s final election results, released early on Friday 30 October 2026, confirmed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc lost its majority of parliamentary seats, the Associated Press reported. Netanyahu’s bloc won 53 seats in Tuesday’s elections; the main opposition bloc won 48; Arab-led parties secured the other 19, described as a historic showing.

A party or bloc needs at least 61 seats in the 120-seat Knesset to command a parliamentary majority, and no bloc reached that threshold. Netanyahu, described by AP as Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, remains in charge while negotiations proceed.

What happens next

The results still need to be certified and submitted to President Isaac Herzog next Wednesday. Herzog will then task someone with forming the new government, possibly Netanyahu as leader of the party that received the most votes, or whoever party leaders believe is best suited. The new Knesset is expected to be sworn in on 10 November 2026.

If multiple attempts to form a government fail, Israel faces a new election early next year. Herzog said he would do everything in his power to avoid that scenario.

Claims and counter-claims

In his first public comment on Friday, Netanyahu posted on X asserting it is forbidden to form a coalition with Arab parties. AP reports Netanyahu and Likud amplified unsubstantiated allegations that Arab-led parties had “stolen” the election, potentially with foreign assistance. The head of Israel’s election committee, Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, said “serious suspicions” of foreign interference had been brought before him, that he could not verify the claims, and asked the Shin Bet security agency to investigate. The elections committee said allegations of systematic violations of electoral integrity are baseless.

Sources: Associated Press via BusinessMirror | Le Monde