Netanyahu at the election in Israel before

Netanyahu in the election in Israel - without a governing majority Published October 28, 2026 Last updated October 28, 2026 With the highest voter turnout since 1999, Israel elected a new parliament. Almost 78 percent of the approximately 7.3 million eligible voters cast their ballots on Tuesday. However, after counting more than 80 percent of the votes, there is still no clear winner. The camp of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu currently leads the opposition bloc of Gadi Eisenkot, who has 49 seats; the lists of the Arab parties reach 17 seats. However, these partial results can change considerably. "Right-wing, national, strong government" On the night before Wednesday, Netanyahu said in Jerusalem that the bloc with his Likud party has a clear and decisive majority "among the Jewish population and all those who support the state". He called for a "right-wing, national, strong government" and warned of a possible alliance of opponents with the Arab parties, to whom he attributed an anti-Israeli stance. With regard to the enemy Iran, Netanyahu stated that he is firmly determined to end the Iranian threat once and for all together with US President Donald Trump. In the previous election in 2022, his coalition, which relied on right-wing and strictly religious parties, had won 64 seats. The 77-year-old has been in office with interruptions for 19 years. For the first time, he was Prime Minister from 1996 to 1999. A further term followed from 2009 to 2021, before Netanyahu became Prime Minister again in 2022. "Do not abuse the security of the land for political purposes" Eisenkot warned Netanyahu against abusing the security of the land for political purposes. The former Chief of Staff said that Netanyahu was only a caretaker Prime Minister without mandate or the trust of the people. The security apparatus must resist all attempts to prioritize political interests over the security of Israel. Several runoff polls had already predicted a neck-and-neck race between the two camps, in which neither bloc achieved the necessary absolute majority. This is 61 out of 120 seats in the Knesset. The vote is considered a guiding force in the highly divided country. The most important topics in the election campaign were the handling of the mass attack by the Islamist Hamas on October 7, 2023, radical settlers in the occupied West Bank, and military service for ultra-Orthodox Jews. Hamas committed a massacre on Israeli territory on October 7, 2023, in which according to the military, about 1200 people were victims. Around 250 people were taken as hostages in the Gaza Strip. During the subsequent Israeli military operation, more than 74,000 people were killed in the Palestinian area according to Hamas authorities. There is no distinction made between fighters and civilians. Hamas is classified as a terrorist organization by numerous states. Order for government formation within 14 days The final official result of the election must be published at the latest within a week. After that, President Isaac Herzog will instruct a member of parliament to form the government within seven days. In general, it is the politician who is given the best chances - likely Likud leader Netanyahu or Chairman of the Jaschar party, Eisenkot. The first attempt at government formation must be completed by the end of November. President Herzog decides whether there will be a further extension of 14 days. This period would then expire by mid-December at the latest. If the first attempt fails, the second candidate receives the order. An extension would then no longer be possible after 28 days. Subsequently, at least 61 members of the newly elected parliament, which is constituted until November 10, could propose a candidate within three weeks. This person would have to form a government within 14 days. If all three stages do not lead to a majority governing coalition, the parliament automatically dissolves. In this case, new elections are held within a period of 90 days. These would therefore be held by mid-April 2027 at the latest. The incumbent Prime Minister Netanyahu would remain at the head of a transitional government until then. Attack on Israeli Embassy on Election Night Meanwhile, a minor was shot in front of the Israeli embassy in Belgrade after allegedly attacking a policeman. The Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic spoke of a "terrorist attack" on Wednesday night. The alleged perpetrator attacked the officer with two knives and shouted "Allahu Akbar" ("God is the Greatest"), Dacic explained. The policeman suffered stab wounds to the face. He killed the attacker in self-defense. According to Dacic, the attacker was monitored by the security authorities. He published a black flag and the emblem of the terrorist organization "Islamic State" on social media. The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed a "failed terrorist attack" near the embassy in Serbia. The diplomatic representation was closed at the time of the incident.