Israel’s 2026 parliamentary election has ended in an acute political deadlock after official ballot counts revealed that neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc nor Gadi Eisenkot’s centrist opposition alliance secured the 61-seat parliamentary majority required to form a government.
With absentee ballots being tallied and over 90 percent of the votes counted, the election results show Netanyahu's coalition falling short of a governing majority. Israel's election authority reported that Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc secured 53 seats, while Eisenkot’s opposition alliance holds 48 seats in the 120-seat Knesset. Combined, broader opposition forces hold 67 seats, a total that includes a surging bloc of Arab political parties that expanded their presence significantly due to high voter turnout among Palestinian citizens of Israel.
How did Arab parties achieve record gains in the election?
Arab parties achieved record gains in the election by capitalizing on a stunning surge in voter turnout among Israel's Arab minority, who have historically been sidelined from federal coalition building. NewsCord reported that the Joint List and Ra’am were projected for 17 seats, while separate coverage from NewsCord and The Jerusalem Post indicated that Arab parties ultimately secured a historic 19 seats in the Knesset. This unprecedented performance sparked sharp political pushback, with Likud claiming the election was 'stolen' by Arab parties following their record turnout.
The Arab parties have long been kept on the political sidelines, but a stunning turnout by their supporters has positioned them as potential kingmakers in the new Parliament.
Can Benjamin Netanyahu or Gadi Eisenkot form a coalition?
Neither Benjamin Netanyahu nor Gadi Eisenkot currently possesses a clear path to assembling a 61-seat majority in the Knesset without making major political concessions. Netanyahu leads his rival in direct seats, and outlets including NBC News and The Washington Post observed that the veteran prime minister remains far from defeated despite losing his majority. Meanwhile, experts note that Eisenkot's prospects for unseating Netanyahu rely heavily on whether his centrist opposition is willing to partner directly with Palestinian and Arab lawmakers.
What are the next steps to break the political gridlock?
To break the political gridlock, Israel's political factions are girding for intense post-election bargaining as President-led coalition negotiations officially begin. Leaders from both main political camps face complex choices that could redefine the nation's political landscape, including potential cross-bloc compromises or an unprecedented reliance on Arab party support. If neither Netanyahu nor Eisenkot can construct a viable coalition alliance, Israel faces the prospect of continued gridlock or a return to the polls.
