Summary
Israel’s October 27 election produced no clear winner, and neither Benjamin Netanyahu’s nor Gadi Eisenkot’s bloc has the 61 seats needed for a parliamentary majority. Coalition talks will determine who can form the next government; official results are due November 4.Key Facts
- The Knesset has 120 seats, and a government needs support from at least 61 members.
- Initial counting put Likud first among individual parties, with 27 seats; Netanyahu’s bloc was projected to have 54.
- Four election-night polls gave Netanyahu’s bloc 51 to 55 seats and Eisenkot’s bloc 49 to 51 seats.
- Arab-led parties Ra’am and the Joint List were projected to hold a combined 16 to 19 seats, but major political figures have ruled out joining them in a coalition.
- Netanyahu’s bloc includes Likud, Shas, United Torah Judaism, Religious Zionism and Otzma Yehudit.
- Eisenkot’s opposition bloc includes Yashar, the Together list, Yisrael Beytenu and the Democrats.
- After results are certified, the president gives a lawmaker considered likely to form a majority 28 days to assemble a government, with a possible 14-day extension.
- Netanyahu remains caretaker prime minister during coalition negotiations and is standing trial on corruption charges, which he denies.
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