Israelis awaited final election results on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, as preliminary data indicated a likely political stalemate. Neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc nor the opposition led by Gadi Eisenkot appeared to have secured the 61 seats required for a majority in the 120-seat parliament.
The election followed a period of political competition where both Netanyahu and Eisenkot claimed they could form a government. On Tuesday, Oct. 27, the country saw a historic voter turnout, particularly involving Arab parties.
Prime Minister Netanyahu and his party amplified claims that Arab-led parties were attempting to "steal" the election. According to police authorities, there is no evidence to support these claims. Netanyahu told his far-right partners, specifically ministers Smotrich and Ben-Gvir, that he would not "abandon" them while attempting to form a right-wing government.
Gadi Eisenkot, the leader of the opposition and a center-right figure, stated he is prepared to form a "Zionist government." Eisenkot said he requires all potential partners to recognize Israel as a Jewish state. Negotiations between various factions are expected to continue in the coming days or weeks.
The potential for a political stalemate affects the approximately 9.5 million citizens of Israel. Without a 61-seat majority, the formation of a coalition requires negotiations between disparate political factions. The final distribution of seats will determine which specific groups, such as religious nationalists represented by Smotrich and Ben-Gvir or secular and Arab citizens, will have their interests prioritized in the next government's budget and policy decisions.
For households, a stalemate or a narrow coalition could lead to delays in addressing economic issues or security policies. The country faces an extended period of "political stalemate," where current interim leadership remains in place while factions negotiate for power. If no coalition can be formed, the country could face further elections, a pattern that has occurred in previous Israeli cycles.
The results will also set a precedent for how much influence minority parties will hold over the selection of the next Prime Minister. Final results could be released as early as Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026.