Partial election results in Israel show that the bloc led by Benjamin Netanyahu has secured 54 seats so far, while the opposition camp, led by Gadi Eisenkot, holds 48 seats.
Arab parties have strengthened their position, reaching a total of 18 seats in parliament.
According to data published by the Central Elections Committee, 72.4% of ballot boxes had been counted as of 10:03 a.m. local time.
Arab parties have made gains, particularly after Mansour Abbas’s Ra’am party added two seats. The result could give them a decisive role in negotiations to form the next government.
Neither of the two main blocs has secured the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-seat parliament, leaving the contest for power unresolved.
Meanwhile, several other parties remain below the electoral threshold of 3.25%. The Reservists party has received 2.7% of the vote, People of Israel 1.7%, and Charedi Public just 0.2%.
The results remain preliminary and may change as counting continues. Double-envelope ballots, including those cast by soldiers, will be counted at a later stage.
The strength of the Arab parties and potential negotiations between political camps are expected to be decisive in determining the parliamentary majority and forming Israel’s next government.
Arab Parties Emerge as Key Players in Coalition Negotiations
One of the main questions following the election will be whether the opposition is willing to cooperate with Arab parties. During the campaign, several Jewish opposition parties ruled out the possibility of an alliance with them, citing ideological differences and a lack of shared values.
Right-wing politician Avigdor Lieberman also took this position, declaring that he would not join a minority government dependent on support from Arab parties.
However, if the opposition bloc cannot secure a majority without their votes, Arab parties could play a decisive role in negotiations to form the government.
Mansour Abbas, leader of the Arab Ra’am party, has expressed his willingness to join the next government. His party was part of the diverse coalition that temporarily removed Netanyahu from power in 2021–2022.
Abbas has said that Israeli parties often adopt hard-line positions during election campaigns but change their political rhetoric once coalition negotiations begin.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu and his allies have launched a campaign questioning the political legitimacy of Arab parties, portraying them as an internal threat.
