54 Seats Leaves Netanyahu Short of Israeli Majority

Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition holds 54 seats, falling short of the 61 required to govern Israel after the latest election.

The result leaves the country without a clear mandate and sets the stage for an extended period of political negotiation. With roughly 70% of the vote counted, representing about 4 million ballots, the numbers stand at 54 for Netanyahu’s bloc and 47 for the opposition Change bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot. Palestinian parties captured 19 seats, a strong showing driven by record turnout among Israeli citizens of Palestinian origin.

The path to government has been defined by recent shifts in party alliances and voter sentiment. Netanyahu, the country’s longest-serving prime minister, plans to build a coalition by aligning his Likud party with far-right factions and Jewish religious groups. Eisenkot, a former general, argued earlier in the evening that voters chose change and suggested Netanyahu should retire from politics. Julian Borger, reporting from Nazareth, noted that Eisenkot must partner with Arab-Israeli leaders to form a stable government. This demographic makes up about 20% of the population, while millions of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza remain unable to vote.

The next phase involves formal coalition talks that are expected to last several weeks. Both leaders must secure enough seats to reach the 61-seat threshold. The outcome will determine whether Netanyahu continues his tenure or if Eisenkot takes the helm. The final seat distribution will be confirmed once all remaining ballots are tallied. Until then, the Knesset remains in a state of suspended animation as parties maneuver for leverage.