Israel Faces Coalition Gridlock After Inconclusive Election

On October 27, 2026, Israel held a parliamentary election that produced no clear winner. With more than 85 % of ballots counted, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc was projected to hold 53 of the 120 seats, while former chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot’s opposition bloc was projected at 48 seats—both short of the 61-seat majority needed to form a government. Israeli Arab lists were expected to secure roughly 19 seats, positioning them as potential kingmakers in any coalition talks.

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The vote was the first national election since the October 7, 2023 attack that sparked Israel’s war in Gaza and reshaped the political landscape. Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, has faced criminal corruption charges, a contested judiciary overhaul, and an International Criminal Court investigation related to the Gaza war. His right-wing alliance includes far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties, while Eisenkot leads a broad opposition that blends centrist and right-leaning elements.

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President Isaac Herzog, tasked with assigning a mandate to form a government, urged parties to keep “an open mind” and emphasized the need to avoid a second election. Eisenkot warned that Israel’s security chiefs must serve the national interest rather than the political aims of a caretaker premier lacking a mandate. Netanyahu, remaining caretaker prime minister, signaled readiness to pursue an attack on Iran in coordination with the United States, a stance Eisenkot publicly rebuked.

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Political scientist Gideon Rahat of Hebrew University noted that while Arab parties achieved a historic surge, it remains uncertain how they might translate that success into governing influence.

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• “We must do everything we can, certainly after yesterday, to avoid another round of elections,” — President Isaac Herzog, said president

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• “We must no longer accept Netanyahu's racist division between Jewish votes and Arab votes," Golan said in a social media post.” — Yair Golan

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• “Netanyahu, don't you dare use Israel's security for your political needs," Mr.” — Mr. Eisenkot, a former military chief leading a broad opposition bloc

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