Israel Election Leaves Netanyahu and Eisenkot Short of Majority as Arab Parties Hold Key Seats

Israel's October 27 election left both main blocs short of a majority, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing bloc winning 53 seats and former army chief Gadi Eisenkot's opposition alliance 48, in the 120-seat Knesset, where 61 are needed. The two Arab-led lists, the Joint List and Ra'am, won the remaining 19 seats, their best result ever, as Arab turnout roughly doubled to about 80%. Results were due to be certified on Wednesday. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's B'Yachad faction said it would recommend Eisenkot to President Isaac Herzog to form the next government, and Herzog urged leaders to accept the results. Party leaders were to make competing cases to Herzog for Netanyahu or Eisenkot to get the first chance at building a coalition. Joint List leader Yousef Jabareen said his party would back Eisenkot's bid without joining the government while the occupation of the West Bank continues. Netanyahu leads a caretaker government.

Right-leaning Just the News leads with the deadlock and the new influence of Arab parties, placing it alongside President Donald Trump weighing renewed strikes on Iran. It gives the seat counts from the Central Elections Committee and highlights Jabareen's conditions for backing Eisenkot. Left-leaning outlets differ in focus. The Guardian leads with Jabareen's interview, quoting his criticism of the Netanyahu government on house demolitions, crime in Arab communities and police conduct, and his readiness to join the opposition "Change" bloc. The New York Times frames it as a contest between Netanyahu and Eisenkot for the first chance to form a government. Both sides agree on the numbers and Arab parties' pivotal role. Al Jazeera adds a distinct angle: Netanyahu's camp has been accused of trying to delegitimise results with largely discounted foreign-interference claims, and Arab backing remains contentious within the opposition.