Israel's election yields no clear majority, coalition talks begin

Israel's parliamentary election has produced a fragmented result, with no single bloc securing the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-member Knesset. With 85.6% of votes counted, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc holds 53 seats, the opposition led by Gadi Eisenkot has 48, and Arab parties have 19 Source: Infobae. The outcome sets the stage for weeks of coalition negotiations, a process that has repeatedly led to political deadlock in recent years.

How the system works

Israel uses a proportional representation system with a single national district. Voters choose party lists, and seats are allocated based on each party's share of the national vote, provided they cross a 3.25% threshold Source: La Vanguardia. No party has ever won an outright majority, so all governments are coalitions Source: El Nacional (VE). After the vote, President Isaac Herzog consults with all parties and tasks a candidate—usually the leader of the largest bloc—with forming a government. That candidate has 28 days, extendable by 14, to build a coalition Source: Infobae.

Key players and scenarios

• Netanyahu's Likud leads the right-religious bloc but may need support from smaller far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties Source: Milenio.
• Eisenkot's centrist Yashar leads the opposition and is exploring a minority government backed externally by Arab parties Source: Infobae.
• Arab parties, with 19 seats, hold a decisive position but face reluctance from both major blocs to rely on them formally Source: Infobae.

If neither side can secure 61 seats, Israel could face another round of elections—the sixth since 2019 Source: La Vanguardia.