Israel's election results point to a hung parliament as Netanyahu's Likud remains largest party

Israel held a national election on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, amid ongoing conflict in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria. Early exit polls released by the country's major television networks suggest that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party emerged as the single largest party, yet neither his bloc nor the opposition secured enough seats to form a government outright in the 120‑member Knesset.

The polls indicate that a majority of voters rejected Netanyahu's proposed coalition, while his main challenger, opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot, also fell short of a clear mandate. Both sides are now expected to engage in protracted negotiations to assemble a governing majority, a process that could extend for weeks.

Background

The 2026 election is the first since the Hamas‑led attack on 7 October 2023, an event described by Israeli authorities as the most severe security failure since the state's founding in 1948. The attack triggered a multifront war involving Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, and has dominated political discourse for the past three years. Netanyahu, who has led Israel for nearly 19 years, campaigned on a platform of keeping Arab parties out of power, arguing that their participation would jeopardise national security.

Arab citizens, who constitute roughly 20 % of Israel's population, turned out in historic numbers, securing more seats than ever before. This surge follows reports of hardship faced by Arab communities under Netanyahu's hard‑right government. Despite the electoral gains, both Netanyahu and the opposition have publicly pledged not to rely on Arab parties to form a coalition, citing security concerns.

Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot, who travelled to the southern community of Nir Oz to meet voters, promised a “different spirit” for Israel, pledging to dismantle Hamas's capabilities and to establish a state commission of inquiry into the 2023 security failures—an initiative Netanyahu’s government has resisted.

Why it matters

The election outcome has immediate implications for Israel's domestic stability and its ongoing military operations. A fragmented Knesset could delay the formation of a new government, potentially affecting decision‑making on the war effort and on internal security reforms. Netanyahu’s supporters, who gathered outside polling stations as he cast his ballot in Jerusalem, argue that continuity is essential for national defence, while critics demand accountability and a change in leadership.

The record performance of Arab parties signals a shift in political engagement among Israel's minority communities, potentially reshaping future policy debates on integration and resource allocation. However, the parties' exclusion from coalition talks, as pledged by both blocs, may limit their influence on legislative outcomes despite their parliamentary presence.

International observers view the election as a referendum on Netanyahu’s handling of the post‑2023 wars and on Israel’s broader strategic posture in the region. A stalemate could invite external pressure for a more inclusive government, while a coalition led by Netanyahu might continue his current security policies.

What happens next

Both Likud and the opposition are expected to begin coalition negotiations within days, seeking partners among smaller parties to reach the 61‑seat threshold required for a majority. Analysts note that Israeli politics often sees parties breaking pre‑election vows when coalition formation becomes necessary, meaning the promised exclusion of Arab parties could be tested.

If a coalition cannot be formed promptly, the Knesset may be dissolved, triggering a new election, as has occurred in previous Israeli dead‑locks. Meanwhile, the security situation on the ground remains volatile, with the war in Gaza and tensions along the northern front continuing to shape public sentiment.

The final official results, expected later this week, will confirm whether the exit‑poll projections hold and will clarify the exact seat distribution, setting the stage for the next phase of Israel’s political landscape.