Live Updates: The results are in: Netanyahu's Likud is Israel's biggest party with 27 seats as all votes counted

Protesters rally outside Eisenkot's home with calls to include Arab parties in coalition • Shin Bet probes foreign election interference, warns against blaming Arab voters

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October 30, 4:56 AM

Netanyahu's chief of staff provided intel. leading to arrests in Ra'am vote bribery case - report

Senior officials told N12 that the election bribery case is unlikely to result in an indictment and that the suspects have explained the source of the money.

ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Chief of Staff, Ido Norden.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Chief of Staff, Ido Norden.

(photo credit: SECTION 27A COPYRIGHT ACT)

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October 30, 4:56 AM

Protesters rally outside Eisenkot's home with calls to include Arab parties in coalition

Chanting "There is no change without partnership," protesters gathered outside Eisenkot's Herzliya home, urging cooperation with Arab parties after the opposition fell 13 seats short of a majority.

ByRICHARD OFFENBACHER

Protesters gather outside Gadi Eisenkot's Herzliya home on October 29, 2026, urging ties with Arab-Israeli parties and chanting, "There is no change without partnership." Credit: Esther Weiner Illouz

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October 30, 4:56 AM

Majority of opposition voters back Eisenkot-led government with Arab party Ra'am - poll

In addition, 20% preferred holding new elections, while 12% supported a rotation government with Netanyahu. Just 7% favored forming a coalition with the ultra-Orthodox parties.

Yashar party chairman Gadi Eisenkot is seen at his party’s election headquarters in Tel Aviv, October 28, 2026

Yashar party chairman Gadi Eisenkot is seen at his party’s election headquarters in Tel Aviv, October 28, 2026

(photo credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI/FLASH90)

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October 30, 4:56 AM

Shin Bet probes foreign election interference, warns against blaming Arab voters

The Shin Bet says its inquiry into suspected foreign funding is unfinished and limited, and must not be used to discredit Arab citizens who voted lawfully.

ByJONAH DAVIDOV, SARAH BEN-NUN, RICHARD OFFENBACHER, SHIR PERETS

A woman votes during the national election in the Arab city of Umm al-Fahm, northern Israel, October 27, 2026

A woman votes during the national election in the Arab city of Umm al-Fahm, northern Israel, October 27, 2026

(photo credit: REUTERS/AMMAR AWAD)

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October 30, 4:56 AM

Former DM Gallant calls for Zionist unity gov't, warns against reliance on Arab parties

ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

October 30, 4:56 AM

Modi'in Mayor Haim Bibas calls for Netanyahu-Eisenkot unity government, warns against new elections

Following inconclusive election results, Bibas called for a broad national unity government led by Netanyahu and Eisenkot, while demanding an investigation into alleged Qatari funding.

By103FM

Haim Bibas, head of The Federation of Local Authorities in Israel attends the Muni Expo 2026 conference in Tel Aviv, June 23, 2026.

Haim Bibas, head of The Federation of Local Authorities in Israel attends the Muni Expo 2026 conference in Tel Aviv, June 23, 2026.

(photo credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI/FLASH90)

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October 30, 4:56 AM

Shas officials blame hardline draft stance for one of party’s worst-ever election defeats

Shas has lost about 30% of its voters since 2022, leaving the ultra-Orthodox party with barely half its previous representation.

ByYEHUDA SHLEZINGER

A view of the empty Shas party election headquarters in Jerusalem, following the closing of polling stations and the release of exit poll results on Israel’s general election night, October 27, 2026.

A view of the empty Shas party election headquarters in Jerusalem, following the closing of polling stations and the release of exit poll results on Israel’s general election night, October 27, 2026.

(photo credit: YOSSI ZAMIR/FLASH90)

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October 30, 4:56 AM

Former Shas minister blames Deri for alienating voters as party drops to six seats

Commentators say Arye Deri should have stopped the conscription crisis before it cost the party its base, calling him a 'millstone' around the ultra-Orthodox party's neck.

By103FM

Shlomo Benizri seen during an interview in Jerusalem on September 10, 2014.

Shlomo Benizri seen during an interview in Jerusalem on September 10, 2014.

(photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

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October 30, 4:56 AM

Iran targeted Israeli election, US midterms with cyber, recruitment plans – report

With neither Netanyahu nor Eisenkot holding a clear path to a coalition, Tehran sees a prolonged stalemate as time to rebuild military capabilities damaged in the conflict.

ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

A voter places his ballot into a collection box during Israel's 26th Knesset elections, October 27, 2026.

A voter places his ballot into a collection box during Israel's 26th Knesset elections, October 27, 2026.

(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)

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October 30, 4:56 AM

Golan meets Ra'am's Mansour Abbas to discuss forming new Israeli government

ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

Democrats chairman Yair Golan meets with Ra'am chairman Mansour Abbas on Thursday to discuss building a political partnership and exploring options to establish a new government in Israel. October 28, 2026.

Democrats chairman Yair Golan meets with Ra'am chairman Mansour Abbas on Thursday to discuss building a political partnership and exploring options to establish a new government in Israel. October 28, 2026.

(photo credit: The Democrats)

Israel votes 2026: All you need to know

The final voter turnout was 77.7% when polls closed at 10:00 p.m., according to the Central Elections Committee (CEC), up 7.1% from the 2022 election.
Likud remains the largest party: Netanyahu's Likud won 27 seats, followed by Eisenkot's Yashar with 21 and Naftali Bennett's B'Yachad with 12.
Netanyahu's bloc leads, but falls short of a majority: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc is set to hold 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset, while the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot is set to hold 48 seats.
Arab parties hold 19 seats: The Joint List and Ra'am secured a combined 19 seats, giving them a potentially decisive role in efforts to form the next government.
What happens next? Once the official results are published, President Isaac Herzog will consult with representatives of the elected parties before tasking a lawmaker with forming the next government. The designated candidate will initially have 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension, to form a coalition.
Could Israel face another election? If no candidate succeeds in forming a government through the prescribed process, the political deadlock could ultimately lead to another election.

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