---
title: "Knesset Elections: Netanyahu's Bloc Ahead But Lacks Majority — Israel on the Brink of Coalition Crisis"
description: "According to preliminary CEC data after counting over 84% of votes, Netanyahu's bloc is leading in the Knesset but falls short of the 61 seats needed for a majority. Neither side is willing to coalition with Arab parties, threatening a political deadlock."
date: 2026-10-28T19:56:10.074Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/knesset-elections-netanyahu-bloc-ahead-no-majority
tags: [israel, knesset-elections, netanyahu, eisenkot, coalition, middle-east-politics]
author: "Alexander Buran"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Knesset Elections: Netanyahu's Bloc Ahead But Lacks Majority — Israel on the Brink of Coalition Crisis

![Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu waves with a raised hand surrounded by allies during election night](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/28/vybory-v-knesete-blok-netanyahu-vedet-no-bez-bolshinstva/vybory-v-knesete-blok-netanyahu-vedet-no-bez-bolshinstva-1.webp)

## Key Points

- According to preliminary CEC data after counting over 84–85% of votes, Netanyahu's bloc is leading (about 53–54 seats), ahead of Eisenkot's bloc (about 48–49 seats).
- Neither the ruling nor the opposition bloc has secured the 61 seats required to form a government.
- Arab parties won a record number of seats (about 17–19), but neither camp is willing to form a coalition with them.
- President Herzog will appoint a candidate to form a government; 28 days are allotted for this with a 14-day extension possible, otherwise new elections may follow.

According to preliminary data from the Central Election Commission of Israel published after counting more than 84–85% of the votes, the bloc led by incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is leading in the parliamentary elections to the 26th Knesset held on October 27, 2026. As of October 28, the alliance is winning about 53–54 seats out of 120, ahead of the opposition block led by former Chief of General Staff Gadi Eisenkot, which accounts for about 48–49 seats. Neither of the two main forces has crossed the 61-seat threshold required to form a government, immediately putting the country on the brink of protracted coalition negotiations.

### Arab Parties — Record Result and Coalition Key

Particular attention is drawn to the performance of parties led by Arab politicians: the United List coalition and the Ra'am party together hold about 17–19 seats, which, according to Israeli and international media, is a record figure for Arab parties in the Knesset. Their votes could prove decisive in forming a majority, but reportedly neither Netanyahu's camp nor Eisenkot's alliance is willing to enter into a coalition with Arab parties, further complicating the arithmetic.

### Individual Party Results

Among individual parties, Netanyahu's Likud maintains the lead — at various stages of the count it is credited with 26–27 seats, while Eisenkot's Yashar party takes second place with 22 seats. Falling below the 3.25% electoral threshold are Reserve (about 2.7%), the National Party of Israel (about 1.6%), and the Haredi community (about 0.2%). Israeli media emphasize that all figures are preliminary: ballots cast in double envelopes, including those from military personnel, diplomats, and certain categories of voters, will be counted later, and the final seat distribution may change.

### Government Formation Mechanism and Deadlock Risk

Following the final count, Israeli President Isaac Herzog will hold consultations with the winning parties and task the candidate he deems most capable with forming a government — this does not necessarily have to be the leader of the largest party. The candidate is given 28 days to form a coalition, with the possibility of a 14-day extension. During this period, parties can negotiate political concessions and the distribution of ministerial portfolios. If a majority is not assembled, minority government scenarios or a power-sharing agreement with two rotating prime ministers are admissible.

### What's Next: From Coalition Talks to New Elections

If the first candidate fails, the right to form a government will pass to another candidate over the next four weeks; in the event of a repeated failure, the Knesset will have a short period to nominate a new candidate, and in the event of a total failure, Israel will have to return to snap elections. Since Netanyahu's and Eisenkot's parties have emerged as the strongest forces in parliament, these two politicians are viewed as the leading candidates for prime minister, and the outcome of the coalition negotiations will determine the country's political course for the coming Knesset term.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [После подсчета более 84% голосов результаты израильских парламентских выборов до сих пор не определены.](https://www.vietnam.vn/ru/hon-84-phieu-duoc-kiem-ket-qua-bau-cu-quoc-hoi-israel-van-chua-nga-ngu) - Primary source basis: 84.5% counted, Netanyahu bloc 54, Eisenkot bloc 49, Arab 17; Likud 27, Yashar 22; risk of deadlock without 61 seats; Herzog procedure and 28+14 days.
- [Выборы в Израиле: подсчитаны более 85% голосов, перспективы коалиции неясны. Что дальше?](https://www.bbc.com/russian/articles/c8x23v64xzwno) - 85.6% of ballots; Netanyahu bloc ahead but without majority; record seats for Arab parties; double envelopes (430–480k) counted later.
- [Выборы в Кнессет: подсчитано около 86% голосов, блок Нетаниягу получает 53 мандата](https://www.newsru.co.il/israel/28oct2026/k26_results_125.html) - As of 14:32, 4,875,751 votes counted (~85.6%); Netanyahu bloc 53, Eisenkot bloc 48, Arab 19; Likud 26 seats (20.74%).
- [В России объявили "сфальсифицированные" результаты голосования на "выборах": "Единая Россия ...](https://www.obozrevatel.com/novosti-rossii/v-rossii-prodolzhayutsya-vyiboryi-v-gosdumu-kakuyu-yavku-izbiratelej-narisoval-tsentrizbirkom.htm) - Подтверждено по источнику obozrevatel.com

## FAQ

### When did the Knesset elections take place?

The parliamentary elections in Israel were held on October 27, 2026, and vote counting continues on October 28.

### Who is leading according to preliminary results?

According to preliminary CEC data, the bloc led by Benjamin Netanyahu is in the lead, ahead of Gadi Eisenkot's opposition bloc.

### How many seats are needed to form a government?

61 seats out of 120 in the Knesset are required, which is the minimum parliamentary majority.

### What happens if a coalition cannot be formed?

The candidate may attempt to create a minority government or a power-sharing agreement; upon failure, the right passes to another candidate, and ultimately new elections are possible.