Netanyahu bloc finishes in lead but no majority, official results show

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition secured 53 out of 120 seats in Israel's recent general election, with his Likud party holding the title of the largest single faction at 27 seats. However, the opposition bloc led by centrist Gadi Eisenkot, won 48 seats, leaving Netanyahu's coalition well short of a parliamentary majority.

This outcome suggests a challenging path ahead for coalition negotiations, which could potentially extend over several weeks. The Arab parties, Raam and the United Arab List, made a significant breakthrough, securing 19 seats, potentially emerging as crucial players in coalition talks. These two parties were accused of receiving Qatari funding for vote-buying, allegations that were denied by both the Arab parties and Qatar.

Despite the controversial allegations, the Central Elections Committee stated that the investigation into the alleged irregularities would not impact the final results. The formal submission of the final results to President Isaac Herzog is scheduled for Wednesday. Once the president has consulted with party leaders, one of them will be tasked with attempting to form a government.

If no majority coalition can be established, Israel might face another election, a scenario that has occurred numerous times in the country's history.