Israel completes vote count with Netanyahu’s bloc short of a majority

Counting in Israel’s parliamentary election concluded Thursday, including ballots cast in double envelopes, leaving neither Netanyahu’s bloc nor the opposition with the 61 seats needed for a Knesset majority.

According to Central Elections Committee figures, Netanyahu’s bloc secured 53 seats, while the opposition bloc won 48. The Joint List took 11 seats and Ra’am eight.

The completed count remains subject to verification, with official results scheduled for publication next Wednesday.

Netanyahu’s Likud finished first with 27 seats, followed by Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar! with 21. Former prime minister Naftali Bennett’s B’Yachad won 12.

Within Netanyahu’s bloc, United Torah Judaism and Otzma Yehudit each secured seven seats. Shas and the joint Religious Zionism–Zehut list each won six.

Among the opposition parties, Yair Golan’s Democrats took eight seats and Avigdor Liberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu seven.

The Reservists and Economy Party, led by Yoaz Hendel and Yaron Zelekha, and Ofer Winter’s party failed to cross the 3.25% electoral threshold.

The opposition bloc and the two Arab lists together hold 67 seats, but substantial political disagreements stand in the way of a governing alliance. Several opposition leaders have ruled out joining a government with the Arab parties or relying on their support.

Golan supports a partnership that would enable Netanyahu’s replacement. Liberman, however, reiterated Thursday that he would not serve alongside either the Arab parties or Netanyahu. He said he would consider only a coalition of Zionist parties, including a Likud led by someone other than Netanyahu.

A unity government remains another possible outcome, although Eisenkot has ruled out serving under Netanyahu, including through a rotating premiership. Failure to reach an agreement could lead to another election.

President Isaac Herzog urged political leaders to approach consultations with an open mind to avoid a further vote. He will receive the official results before consulting the parliamentary factions.

The count concluded as the Shin Bet continued investigating suspected foreign influence through funding. The Central Elections Committee said the integrity of voting at polling stations had been preserved.

The Shin Bet stressed that its investigation was ongoing and should not be interpreted as implicating an entire community.

Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas denied any connection to the case and said his party would cooperate fully with investigators.

Eisenkot also called for a full investigation, while accusing Netanyahu and Likud of using the suspicions to undermine the legitimacy of the election results. He said he opposed any delay to the inauguration of the new Knesset.