100% of votes counted in Israel polls, Netanyahu's bloc falls short of majority

Israel completed the counting of all ballots in its October 27 parliamentary election on Thursday, confirming that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc failed to secure a majority in the 120-member Knesset. The final tally placed Netanyahu’s right-wing and far-right alliance at 53 seats, while the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot captured 48 seats. A third grouping consisting of Arab-led parties won a record 19 seats. Neither the pro-government camp nor the opposition reached the 61 seats required to form a government, leaving the nation without a clear mandate and setting the stage for complex coalition negotiations. The Central Elections Committee announced the final results after completing the count of special ballots, known as double-envelope votes. These ballots encompassed votes cast by soldiers, prisoners, diplomats stationed abroad, and hospitalized individuals who could not attend regular polling stations. The inclusion of these late-counted votes did not alter the distribution of seats among the major political blocs. The committee stated that the integrity of the vote at polling stations had been maintained, although it deferred the certification of the final official results until a later date. Likud emerged as the largest single party in the Knesset with 27 seats, surpassing pre-election projections that had suggested a weaker performance. Other parties within Netanyahu’s bloc included United Torah Judaism and Otzma Yehudit, which secured seven seats each, and Shas and Religious Zionism, which won six seats each. On the opposition side, Eisenkot’s Yashar party won 21 seats, making it the second-largest force in parliament. Naftali Bennett’s B’Yachad party secured 12 seats, while the Democrats and Ra’am won eight seats each. Avigdor Liberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu obtained seven seats. The Joint List, a coalition of several smaller parties, took 11 seats. The election results have triggered intense political conflict regarding allegations of foreign interference and irregularities in the Arab sector. Netanyahu’s Likud party claimed that Arab-led parties benefited from vote-buying and illegal voter mobilization, describing the election as "stolen." The party issued statements calling the situation a "political earthquake" and asserted that foreign funding influenced the outcome. In response, the Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic security agency, opened an investigation into suspicions that funds from Qatar and Turkey were used to illegally influence Arab voter turnout. Additionally, the police unit Lahav 433 is investigating suspected election bribery. Despite these allegations, the Central Elections Committee’s acting director general, Dean Livne, stated there was no basis for claims of systematic violations of election integrity. He described suggestions of widespread issues as "entirely groundless." Qatar has denied interfering in the election. Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas denied any wrongdoing and welcomed the investigation, while the Joint List accused Netanyahu and his allies of launching a "campaign of incitement" driven by fear of Arab voters' growing political influence. Government officials have not presented evidence to substantiate the claims of foreign funding. Opposition leaders moved quickly to explore coalition options. Eisenkot met with former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to discuss forming a new government "as quickly as possible." Eisenkot also engaged with Yair Golan, chair of the Democrats party, who is the only member of the opposition alliance willing to consider a coalition with parties led by Palestinian citizens of Israel. All other political groups in the opposition have rejected such unions. Golan met separately with Mansour Abbas, stating that the moment calls for action to ensure the "salvation of Israel." The high turnout among Arab citizens, resulting in a record 19 seats, has been attributed by analysts to a backlash against policies implemented during the tenure of the current far-right national security minister. Members of the Arab community cited rising crime rates, perceived negligent policing, and increased racism following the October 7, 2023, attacks and the subsequent war in Gaza as factors driving voter mobilization. This demographic shift complicates the path to government formation, as the opposition bloc lacks the necessary majority without the support of these Arab parties. Thousands of Israelis residing abroad traveled to the country to vote, as Israel does not permit postal or online voting for citizens outside its borders. Estimates suggest approximately 67,000 Israelis flew home for the election, with a significant portion originating from the United States, Europe, Canada, and Australia. Many paid for their travel independently. Analysts noted that these expatriate voters often favor political change, potentially influencing the equivalent of two parliamentary seats in a tightly contested race. Israel’s president will oversee the selection of a lawmaker tasked with attempting to form a coalition once the results are officially certified. The process could extend for weeks or even months. If no viable coalition emerges from the fragmented landscape, the country faces the possibility of another election. For now, Netanyahu retains leverage as the leader of the largest party, while his rivals struggle to bridge ideological divides and secure the necessary support to displace him from power.