Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc falls short of a majority in Israel’s election
Final results gave Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc 53 of 120 Knesset seats, short of a majority. Likud alleged the vote was “stolen,” a claim described as unsubstantiated. Israeli President Isaac Herzog called for an investigation and urged against smearing Arab voters. NPR said Netanyahu would need roughly eight lawmakers from outside his bloc.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing and far-right bloc won the most seats in Israel's election but fell short of a majority in the 120-seat Knesset, according to final official results released early Friday. The Central Elections Committee said the bloc won 53 seats, including 27 for Netanyahu's Likud party, the largest single party. The opposition bloc, led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, secured 48 seats, while Arab-led parties won 19. A majority requires 61 seats, leaving both sides facing difficult coalition negotiations. Netanyahu would need roughly eight lawmakers from outside his bloc to form a government, NPR reported. Likud claimed the vote was "stolen," an allegation described as unsubstantiated. Israeli President Isaac Herzog called for a complete investigation and urged against tarnishing Arab voters' reputations.
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Verifier’s note
Arab News and NPR both report that Netanyahu’s bloc fell short of a parliamentary majority in the election results. Both reports are dated October 30, 2026, consistent with the proposed event’s timing.