Israel's 26th Knesset elections have produced a hung parliament, with the Central Elections Committee (CEC) releasing final results on Friday, 31 October 2026 showing no political bloc securing the 61 seats required for a majority. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud-led bloc won 53 seats, the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party secured 48 seats, and Arab factions claimed the remaining 19 seats.

A Sharp Fall from 2022

The result marks a significant erosion of Netanyahu's coalition strength. His constituent parties had held 68 seats in the outgoing Knesset — meaning the Likud-led bloc shed 15 seats in this cycle. The opposition bloc, however, also falls well short of a majority, leaving both camps locked in a difficult government-formation contest.

Notably, the Tuesday poll was Israel's first national election since the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel — a watershed event that reshaped voter priorities and reordered the political landscape dramatically from the 2022 elections.

Record Voter Turnout

Final voter turnout reached 77.9% of eligible voters, reportedly the highest figure in decades, reflecting the heightened public stakes after more than three years of conflict and political turbulence. The high participation underscored how deeply the security situation and its political fallout had galvanised the Israeli electorate.

What Happens Next

The official results are scheduled to be submitted to Israeli President Isaac Herzog on 4 November 2026. Herzog will then consult individually with each party leader, who will recommend their preferred candidate for prime minister. The newly elected Knesset is set to be sworn in on 10 November 2026.

Government formation is expected to be protracted. According to reports, coalition negotiations could extend beyond two months, with neither bloc in a position to independently assemble a working majority. Herzog, in remarks earlier this week, urged all leaders to approach the process with flexibility and warned against sliding into yet another round of elections. 'We must do everything we can, certainly after yesterday, to avoid another round of elections. So I expect everyone who comes here to come with an open mind,' he said.

Netanyahu and Eisenkot Both Claim Mandate

Both principal figures have declared their intention to lead the next government. Addressing supporters at Likud election headquarters in Jerusalem after polls closed, Netanyahu asserted that the right wing commanded a 'great majority' among Israel's 'Zionist public' and called for the formation of a 'strong right-wing government.' He also publicly criticised parties willing to cooperate with Arab factions, calling such an arrangement a 'shame.'

Eisenkot, for his part, has insisted the opposition bloc has a path to governance, though the arithmetic remains formidable. The 19 Arab seats occupy a pivotal swing position — their alignment or abstention could determine whether any bloc can reach the 61-seat threshold, yet Netanyahu has explicitly ruled out partnering with Arab parties, complicating the calculus further.

Path to Government Remains Unclear

With no natural majority coalition in sight, analysts warn that Israel could face the prospect of a sixth election in recent years if talks collapse. The country has cycled through political deadlock repeatedly since 2019, and this result — coming against the backdrop of an ongoing conflict and unresolved hostage negotiations — adds fresh urgency to an already fragile political environment. How quickly a stable government can be assembled will have direct consequences for security policy, the judiciary, and the country's international relationships.