No clear winner in Israel election, Arab parties as ‘on-paper kingmakers’ in the Netanyahu-Eisenkot deadlock, and unity government manoeuvres: What we know so far

What happened: Israel held its Knesset election on 27th October 2025, and with most ballots counted neither the Benjamin Netanyahu-led bloc nor the Gadi Eisenkot-led bloc reached the 61-seat majority needed in the 120-member Knesset. Key numbers: Netanyahu-led Why it matters: The deadlock leaves Arab parties as on-paper kingmakers, but the Netanyahu-led bloc has indicated it will not ally with them over ideological differences. President Isaac Herzog will consult party leaders and task a bloc with forming a government, and failure could trigger fresh elections, potentially for early 2027.

Israel held its Knesset election on 27th October 2025, and with most ballots counted neither the Benjamin Netanyahu-led bloc nor the Gadi Eisenkot-led bloc reached the 61-seat majority needed in the 120-member Knesset.

The deadlock leaves Arab parties as on-paper kingmakers, but the Netanyahu-led bloc has indicated it will not ally with them over ideological differences. President Isaac Herzog will consult party leaders and task a bloc with forming a government, and failure could trigger fresh elections, potentially for early 2027.