Israel’s election deadlock: What could happen next?

Israel's recent election has resulted in a stark deadlock, with neither incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor his opponents possessing an obvious route to governance. The election saw a record turnout for Israelis, surpassing any poll since 2001. However, the landscape has been further complicated by the significant successes achieved by the Joint List and Ra'am, two slates representing Palestinian citizens of Israel.

These groups have garnered almost universal backing from Israeli political leaders to be excluded from any future governing coalition, adding an additional layer of complexity to the situation.

As of Wednesday, with 85% of votes counted, Netanyahu's allies held a narrow lead with 53 seats, while Gadi Eisenkot's bloc trailed with 48. The Palestinian parties collectively secured 19 seats, still far from the 61 needed to form a majority government. With coalition-building negotiations scheduled to commence, Middle East Eye delves into the potential outcomes and scenarios that could unfold in the coming days.