Netanyahu set to remain caretaker after inconclusive Israeli election

Jerusalem — Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu appears poised to maintain his role as caretaker prime minister following unexpectedly high support from Jewish voters. Despite his right-wing coalition losing its majority in the Knesset, Netanyahu's bloc emerged victorious with 53 seats out of 120, according to projections from Israel's main broadcasters.

This lead far surpasses the 48 seats of his opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot. The presence of Arab Israeli parties in the results is notable, as they secured an unprecedented 19 seats, a factor that makes it unlikely for Eisenkot to form a government without their support. While the final results could still shift as counting proceeds, it's clear that Netanyahu will continue in his caretaker capacity during coalition negotiations and possibly until the next election scheduled for next year.