Israel’s election gives survivor Netanyahu a path to keep power

Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the Likud party headquarters in Jerusalem on Wednesday. | Bloomberg

Oct 29, 2026

DUBAI – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pulled ahead on Wednesday as votes were counted in Israel’s election, but the loss of a parliamentary majority leaves his path to another term dependent on drawing rivals into a coalition.

With the turnout in Tuesday’s election at a record high and nearly 86% of votes tallied, Israel’s three main broadcasters put Netanyahu’s bloc of right-wing, far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties on course to win 53 seats in parliament, with the opposition bloc of rival Gadi Eisenkot trailing on 48.

Both remained short of the 61 seats needed for a majority in the Knesset, or parliament, while parties representing Arab Israelis were projected to win 19 seats.

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