Election Chief: Foreign funding suspicions won't overturn Israel's vote

In Israel's recent 2026 general election, a hung parliament occurred, with no coalition able to secure the required 61-seat majority in the 120-seat Knesset. This unexpected outcome positions Arab-led parties, including Ra'am and the Joint List, as the potential kingmakers in the power dynamics of Tel Aviv. Despite Benjamin Netanyahu's main opposition, the Gadi Eisenkot-led bloc that includes Yashar, B'Yachad, The Democrats, and Yisrael Beytenu, failing to win a majority, there is still no clear path to forming a new government.

Following the elections held on October 27, Netanyahu lost his coalition's parliamentary majority. Political uncertainty remains, with weeks of negotiations ahead as Israeli political blocs deliberate on potential government arrangements. The final election results showed the pro-Netanyahu coalition winning 53 seats, with the United Torah Judaism, Otzma Yehudit, Shas, and Religious Zionism securing 7, 7, 6, and 6 seats respectively.

On the other hand, Eisenkot-led Jewish bloc won 48 seats, with Yashar, B'Yachad, The Democrats, and Yisrael Beytenu holding 21, 12, 8, and 7 seats respectively. Arab-led parties emerged victorious with 19 seats, securing 11 for the Joint List and 8 for Ra'am. All blocs failed to achieve a majority, forcing parties to either re-align or join other blocs to form a new government.

After the voting and result declaration, the Israeli election outcome must be officially certified and presented to President Isaac Herzog by November 4. The new Knesset is set to be sworn in on November 10, and President Herzog will give the responsibility to form a new government to a member of the Knesset by November 11. President Herzog will make his decision after receiving input from Israeli party leaders and will shortlist the candidate most favorable to form a majority coalition.

The Knesset member chosen by the president will have 28 days to form a government, with an extension possibility of 14 days in case necessary. Gadi Eisenkot, the chief of Yashar party, stated that Israeli voters overwhelmingly voted against Netanyahu's government, indicating a demand for change. He emphasized that it is the Knesset, not the president, that gives its confidence to the government.