Israel Election Results Due for Certification as Coalition Deadlock Deepens

Israel's October 27 election results are due to be certified on Wednesday, a step that will officially open coalition talks after a vote that produced a deeply divided Knesset. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing bloc secured 53 seats, the opposition alliance led by former army chief Gadi Eisenkot won 48, and the two Arab-led parties — the Joint List and Ra'am — held the remaining 19 seats. No bloc reached the 61-seat majority needed to govern the 120-seat parliament.

The ultra-Orthodox parties Shas and United Torah Judaism (UTJ), long-standing Netanyahu allies, withdrew their parliamentary support earlier this year after the governing coalition failed to pass a law exempting some of their members from military service. Speculation has grown that UTJ in particular could defect to the opposition, though analysts note that even this would leave Eisenkot's bloc short of a majority without Arab party backing.

Netanyahu, whose Likud party finished first with 27 seats, insisted he had a mandate to govern. "We aim to form a broad government with our partners and with any other party that wishes to join, provided they do not support terrorism," he said. His camp has also made largely discounted allegations that the Arab vote — which produced a record performance for Arab-led parties — was manipulated by foreign interference.

Analysts warn the process faces major uncertainties. Pollster Mitchell Barak cautioned that US midterm results could weaken President Donald Trump, Israel's key ally, while Yossi Mekelberg of Chatham House said a potential renewed conflict with Iran could disrupt negotiations entirely or boost Netanyahu's political standing. The new Knesset is due to be sworn in on November 10.