Story perspectives

Netanyahu coalition wins 53 seats, falls short of majority

By Drooid · Oct 29, 2026 · How we work

Read the story

Story summary

Summary

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition won 53 of 120 Knesset seats, missing a majority.
Defense Minister Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar bloc secured 48 seats, five fewer than Netanyahu’s bloc.
Arab parties captured 19 seats, the highest Arab representation in Knesset history.
Likud accused Arab parties of election fraud and demanded a law-enforcement investigation.
President Isaac Herzog urged politicians to stay open-minded in coalition talks to avoid another election.

Summary

Voter turnout hit about 78% shortly before 10 p.m., one of the highest in recent Israeli elections.
Tens of thousands marched in Tel Aviv demanding answers for the Oct. 7 security failures, chanting against dictatorship.
The Israeli shekel and stock market outperformed most rich-world peers in 2026 despite ongoing wars.
President Donald Trump warned the U.S. could resume war with Iran after the November 3 midterm elections, boosting Netanyahu’s leverage.

History

On 29 May 1996, Israelis elected Benjamin Netanyahu as prime minister by a 29,457-vote margin; his Likud-Gesher-Tzomet alliance won only 32 Knesset seats, the smallest governing bloc ever. The election introduced separate ballots for prime minister and Knesset amid Hamas bombings that hurt Shimon Peres. The 2026 vote mirrors this shift, with Netanyahu’s bloc leading and Arab parties holding increased representation.

1 of 3

On 29 May 1996, Israelis elected Benjamin Netanyahu as prime minister by a 29,457-vote margin; his Likud-Gesher-Tzomet alliance won only 32 Knesset seats, the smallest governing bloc ever. The election introduced separate ballots for prime minister and Knesset amid Hamas bombings that hurt Shimon Peres. The 2026 vote mirrors this shift, with Netanyahu’s bloc leading and Arab parties holding increased representation.

1 / 3