Israel has counted 90% of election votes. Netanyahu's Likud party is projected to win 53 seats, the opposition 48 seats, while Arab parties may hold a combined 19 seats, potentially playing a role in forming the government.
On 28 October 2026, with nearly 90% of Israeli election votes counted, no party has secured a majority to form a government. The Central Election Committee of Israel reported that by 9:00 p.m. local time, over 5 million votes had been counted.
Earlier projections indicated that the right-wing bloc led by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might obtain 53 of the 120 parliamentary seats, while the opposition group led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot was expected to win 48 seats. Both sides remain short of the 61-seat majority required to form a government.
Two Arab political parties—the Joint List and Ra’am—may collectively win up to 19 seats, a record high if projections hold. However, over 500,000 special double-envelope ballots remain to be counted. These include votes from soldiers, diplomats, and voters casting ballots outside their registered districts, which could influence seat allocations.
Official election results are expected to be announced as early as Thursday evening. Netanyahu will continue as acting prime minister until a new government is successfully formed.
President Isaac Herzog plans to meet with leaders of various political parties next week after official results are announced to discuss government formation strategies. Although Netanyahu’s bloc holds the most seats, it remains uncertain if he can secure enough support.
Some analysts suggest a possible unity government including Eisenkot, but this approach remains unresolved. Before the election, Eisenkot declared he would not support a minority government involving Arab parties, and Netanyahu has also rejected this option.
Eisenkot posted on X on Wednesday that the opposition alliance is focused on a crucial mission to bring change to Israel and establish a Zionist government. He stated that the election results reflect a lack of confidence in the government that managed the country during the attacks on 7 October 2023.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu's Likud party accused Arab political parties of attempting to steal the election, alleging bribery, intimidation, violence, document forgery, and illegal software use to rally votes. Likud said it will submit evidence to the police, internal security agencies, and the election committee for investigation. These allegations await verification by relevant authorities.
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