In brief
In a nearly completed tally of the Israeli parliamentary election, opposition parties captured 67 seats to the right‑wing bloc’s 53, according to the Central Elections Committee. Neither coalition holds the 61 seats required for a majority, with Arab parties holding 19 seats and Eisenkot’s aligned parties 48. The final count will be certified on November 4 after a full review.
In a near‑complete tally released by Israel’s Central Elections Committee on Thursday, opposition parties won 67 of the 120 seats in the Knesset, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right‑wing bloc holds 53 seats, leaving both sides short of a 61‑seat majority without Arab party support.
The opposition’s 67 seats comprise 48 won by parties aligned with former military chief Gadi Eisenkot and 19 by Arab parties, according to Xinhua reporting the results from roughly 97% of the ballots counted.
The Central Elections Committee said the vote count was still pending finalization later Thursday but would be officially announced on November 4 after a comprehensive review.
Neither Netanyahu nor Eisenkot has the 61 seats needed to form a majority government without partnering with Arab parties; the deficit means coalition talks will likely continue as each side seeks support.
With the Arab bloc holding 19 seats, the opposition’s success marks its most substantial presence in the Knesset, although it remains dependent on further negotiations to secure a governing majority.
The final certification of the election results, with all ballots counted, is expected to be completed on November 4, pending the Committee’s review of the remaining 3% of votes.
