JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing political bloc has lost its parliamentary majority following the release of official final election results, setting the stage for intense and difficult political negotiations among rival parties seeking to form the next government.
Final figures released by Israel’s Central Elections Committee early Friday gave Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc 53 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, falling short of the 61-seat threshold required to command a majority and automatically remain in power.
The main anti-Netanyahu opposition alliance, led by Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party, secured 48 seats in the national assembly. Meanwhile, Arab-led political parties recorded a historic showing by securing the remaining 19 seats, effectively placing them in a pivotal position that could determine the direction of coalition talks and the composition of the next administration.
Addressing his supporters following the election outcome, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted that the right-wing bloc still commands a decisive majority among the Jewish public and called for the formation of a strong, national government.
Opposition figures strongly rejected his claims, with Eisenkot stating that the public voted for change and that the governing coalition had lost the trust of the Israeli people. Centrist leader Yair Lapid acknowledged the intricate challenges ahead, noting on social media that consultations and private negotiations are already quietly underway behind the scenes.
The official election results are expected to be certified and formally submitted next week to President Isaac Herzog, who will then mandate a party leader to begin building a governing coalition following consultations with the various parliamentary factions.
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