On October 27, Israelis went to the polls to elect the 120 members of the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, setting in motion the process of determining Israel’s next government and prime minister.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc won 53 seats, the opposition bloc led by Yashar! party leader Gadi Eisenkot won 48 seats, and the Arab parties won 19 seats. Neither main bloc secured the 61 seats needed for a parliamentary majority.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog received the official results on November 4. Following meetings with party representatives, Herzog gave Eisenkot the mandate to form a coalition.
Regardless of the composition of Israel’s next government, the United States must work to deepen and expand the U.S.-Israel relationship for the benefit of Americans and Israelis alike.
- Netanyahu Bloc: 53 seats — Likud 27, United Torah Judaism 7, Otzma Yehudit 7, Shas 6, Religious Zionism 6.
- Opposition Bloc: 48 seats — Yashar 21, B’Yachad 12, The Democrats 8, Yisrael Beytenu 7.
- Arab Parties: 19 seats — The Joint List 11, Ra’am 8.
Voter turnout reached 77.9% — the highest figure in decades — with 5,716,665 votes cast. Record-breaking turnout among Arab voters handed Arab parties their largest-ever seat total.
- On November 8, four days after receiving the official election results, President Herzog gave Yashar! leader Gadi Eisenkot the mandate to form a government.
- Eisenkot now has four weeks to assemble a coalition, generally seeking a majority of at least 61 members of Knesset (MKs). The president may grant an additional two weeks or, if the effort fails, turn to another MK. Up to three attempts may be made to form a government. If all fail, a new election is called.
- In the meantime, Netanyahu will continue to serve as interim prime minister. The new Knesset is scheduled to be sworn in on November 10, regardless of the progress of coalition negotiations.
President Herzog has called on party leaders to approach coalition talks with an open mind: “We must do everything we can, certainly after yesterday, to avoid another round of elections. So, I expect everyone who comes here to come with an open mind,” he said.
- Unity Government: Parties from the Netanyahu and opposition blocs could negotiate a cross-bloc coalition with a parliamentary majority. Such an agreement would require compromises over the premiership, cabinet positions, policy priorities, and which parties participate. Israel’s Basic Law also permits a rotation arrangement in which two leaders alternate as prime minister.
- Minority Government: A coalition with fewer than 61 seats could take office with support — or sufficient abstentions — from parties that remain outside the government, provided it wins more votes in favor than against in the Knesset’s confidence vote. An Eisenkot-led government would therefore need support or abstentions beyond his 48-seat bloc, likely from the Arab parties.
- New Elections: If the government-formation process fails, the Knesset would be deemed dissolved and another election would follow, likely in spring 2027.
These scenarios are not exhaustive. A majority coalition could also emerge if parties change their current bloc alignments or reconsider their positions on potential partners.
Regardless of the next government in Israel, the United States must continue to stand with our democratic ally and advance the bilateral partnership that benefits both countries.
