The Newshound

Israel's opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot opens the door to a coalition with Arab parties holding a record 19 seats

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister, with Chaim at the Western Wall, as the final count left his Likud-led bloc on 53 seats — eight short of the majority needed to govern.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister, with Chaim at the Western Wall, as the final count left his Likud-led bloc on 53 seats — eight short of the majority needed to govern.
Crowds marching through Tel Aviv by night, as Arab turnout surged to nearly 80 per cent to deliver the historic Knesset result.
Crowds marching through Tel Aviv by night, as Arab turnout surged to nearly 80 per cent to deliver the historic Knesset result.

Eisenkot's Yashar party secured 48 seats against Netanyahu's bloc's 53, leaving both sides short of the 61 needed for a Knesset majority. The two Arab-led parties — Raam and the Joint List — won a historic 19 seats combined, making them potential kingmakers in any coalition deal.

Many Jewish opposition figures still reject Arab party involvement in a governing coalition, fearing their influence over security and foreign policy.

One sign of the era's complexity: a Jewish former police officer, Segalovitz, is set to sit in the Knesset representing Raam, an Islamist party.

Final turnout reached 77.9%, with Netanyahu's Likud the largest single party on 27 seats but still unable to command a majority alone.

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