Israeli election ends in deadlock with neither bloc holding a majority as Herzog urges leaders to avoid a repeat vote

Summary

Israel's national election ended in deadlock, with neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc nor the opposition reaching the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. Reports based on partial counts give different figures. Middle East Eye, with 85 percent of votes counted, reported Netanyahu and his allies at 53 seats, Gadi Eisenkot's coalition at 48 and Palestinian parties at 19, and said President Isaac Herzog urged political leaders to avoid another election after the deadlock. France 24, with more than 90 percent of ballots counted, reported Netanyahu's bloc at 53 seats against 67 for the opposition, and said the Central Elections Committee asked the Shin Bet chief to investigate alleged foreign interference, including suspected Qatar-linked funding. Hindustan Times reported Likud as the largest party with 27 seats, followed by Eisenkot's Yashar with 21 and Naftali Bennett's B'Yachad with 12, with Arab parties on 19 seats, and said Mossad would join the Shin Bet in probing alleged election rigging, according to Israeli media reports.

Timeline

1. Middle East Eye

   29 Oct 2026, 01:50 UTCSource ↗

   Middle East Eye reports that Israeli President Isaac Herzog said on Wednesday that political leaders should work to avoid another election after a deadlock, with 85 percent of votes counted showing Netanyahu and his allies at 53 seats, Eisenkot's coalition at 48 and Palestinian parties at 19.

2. France 24

   29 Oct 2026, 03:36 UTCSource ↗

   France 24 reports that Israel's Central Elections Committee called on the Shin Bet chief to investigate alleged foreign interference in the elections, including suspected Qatar-linked funding, with more than 90 percent of ballots counted and Netanyahu's bloc at 53 seats against 67 for the opposition.

3. Hindustan Times

   30 Oct 2026, 01:27 UTCSource ↗

   Hindustan Times reports that Netanyahu's Likud remained Israel's largest party with 27 seats, followed by Eisenkot's Yashar with 21 and Naftali Bennett's B'Yachad with 12, and that the Arab parties won 19 seats.