Israel's election leaves neither bloc with a majority
Israeli media project that neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition nor the opposition bloc led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot will win a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. Netanyahu remains in office in a caretaker role. The vote was held on 27 Oct 2026. Reports from before the vote described a clash between Netanyahu and army chief of staff Eyal Zamir over a proposed military operation against Iran, which Channel 12 said Zamir wanted documented in writing. Netanyahu's office has denied using the Iran conflict for political gain.
Key facts
- Guy Lurie of the Israel Democracy Institute says a caretaker government has the same authority as a regular government under the letter of the law.
- Or Asher of the Tachlith Institute says security issues are the clearest exception to a caretaker government's duty of restraint.
- Netanyahu, 77, is Israel's longest-serving prime minister and faces an international arrest warrant over alleged war crimes in Gaza.
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Why it matters
No bloc has a clear majority, so the coalition government is still unresolved.
What changed
First published from The Jerusalem Post, Anadolu Agency, Dawn, Middle East Eye and PBS NewsHour