Israel Election Produces Political Deadlock

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Updated on 10/29/2026

Israel Election Produces Political Deadlock

Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc and Gadi Eisenkot's opposition bloc both fell short of the 61 seats needed to form a government in Israel's election. Coalition talks are expected to focus on the strengthened Arab parties and whether they will support an alternative government.

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liberal

Israel election results live: count of absentee ballots under way as coalition talks set to begin

Hello and welcome to our continuing coverage of the Israeli election.

3 hours ago

conservative

Arab Israeli parties emerge as wild card in elections

Israel’s 2026 parliamentary elections are set to amount to political deadlock, with neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor Gadi Eisenkot getting enough votes to form a government. One clear winner did emerge, however, with enough votes to decisively influence the outcome: Israeli Arabs.

12 hours ago

liberal

Coalition talks loom as Israel exit polls suggest Netanyahu and Eisenkot blocs tied

Projections show votes for Palestinian parties surged in a tight contest that saw the highest turnout in decades

a day ago

conservative

Israel is a first-world country with a third-world electoral system

As of this writing, former Israeli militia Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot’s bloc of parties is on pace to win 48 Knesset seats in Israel’s election, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc is on pace for 56. Neither coalition has enough to form a parliamentary majority.

14 hours ago

liberal

Israel election: what we know so far

Revised exit polls suggest a tie between Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling coalition and Gadi Eisenkot’s opposition bloc, plus marked gains by Palestinian parties

a day ago

conservative

Netanyahu, Eisenkot not within reach of Israel's governing majority

With at least 80% of the vote tallied, neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor his main rival, former Israel Defense Forces chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot, is within reach of the 61 seats needed to form a majority in Israel's 120-seat Parliament, the Knesset.

19 hours ago

conservative

Netanyahu and his opponent both spin election as victory as results trickle in

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot both spun the parliamentary results as a victory for their respective sides on election night, despite full results not yet being confirmed.

21 hours ago