Israel has certified the results of its parliamentary election, leaving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc eight seats short of the majority needed to form a government.
The final result gives Netanyahu’s alliance 53 seats, parties aligned with opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot 48, and the two Arab-led parties 19 in the 120-member Knesset. A governing majority requires at least 61 seats, according to the official election results.
President Isaac Herzog accepted the certified results as legally binding and began consultations with the parliamentary factions, according to Vesti Baku. Herzog must now decide which lawmaker has the best chance of assembling a coalition.
Neither of the two principal camps can govern on its own. The Joint List and Ra’am, which together won a record 19 seats, could play a decisive role in coalition talks. Their numerical ability to give Eisenkot’s camp a majority does not automatically translate into a stable government because several Jewish-led opposition parties have ruled out cooperation with the Arab factions.
Coalition Consultations Begin
Herzog is meeting representatives of all elected factions and asking whom they recommend for prime minister. The president is not required to choose the candidate with the largest number of recommendations; he is expected to select the lawmaker he believes has the strongest chance of forming a government.
The chosen candidate will receive 28 days to assemble a coalition. Herzog may grant an extension of up to 14 days. If Netanyahu and Eisenkot both fail to find enough partners, Israel could face another election early next year.
Commission Says Claims Did Not Undermine the Result
Election officials said they examined allegations of irregularities and found no evidence that would call the result into question. A separate investigation into possible foreign interference is continuing, but no public evidence has shown that such activity affected the vote.
Herzog urged political parties to accept the result and seek compromise. Netanyahu will remain prime minister while coalition negotiations continue and until a new government is formed.
Likud remained the largest individual party with 27 seats. Eisenkot’s Yashar won 21, B’Yachad 12, the Joint List 11, the Democrats eight, Ra’am eight, Yisrael Beytenu seven, United Torah Judaism seven, Otzma Yehudit seven, Shas six and Religious Zionism-Zehut six.