Israel Election: Knesset Left Without Governing Majority
Record turnout and sharp ideological splits leave President Isaac Herzog with a difficult path to form a coalition.
By Noor Phillips ·
The Israeli election concluded on Tuesday night without producing a clear winner, leaving the country without a majority government. Neither the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot nor the camp surrounding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secured enough seats to rule alone.
Exit polls and final tallies indicated a fragmented parliament. The Arab parties, representing approximately one-fifth of the population, gained roughly 15% of the vote, potentially securing seats in the high teens. This increase strengthens their leverage in coalition talks.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, representing the Jewish supremacist far-right which garnered about 10% of the vote, began announcing plans for Jewish settlements in Gaza while results were still being counted. In contrast, Netanyahu’s Likud party lost ground but is positioned to remain the largest single party in the Knesset.
President Isaac Herzog described the high voter participation as a "badge of honour" for Israeli society. He noted the depth of the democratic desire evident in the record turnout from both Jewish and Arab citizens, many of whom traveled from abroad to vote.
The election results reflect deep internal divisions. Tensions persist over judicial reforms that triggered mass protests in the early part of the current government's term. Disagreements remain intense regarding the response to the October 7, 2023 attacks, specifically the balance between saving hostages and destroying Hamas, as well as the military service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox men.
Yair Golan, leader of the left-wing Democrat party, urged the opposition to form a partnership with Arab parties. He stated that Israel must stop accepting Netanyahu's division between Jewish and Arab votes. Conversely, commentator Amit Segal observed that the high Arab turnout reminded Jewish voters on both sides that they may need to learn to sit together after years of separation.
The task of forming a government now falls to the various political factions. They must decide whether to abandon previous alliances and accept compromises that may challenge their core platforms. The ultra-Orthodox community now constitutes nearly 15% of the population, a demographic shift that complicates relations with secular segments of society.
President Herzog acknowledged the risk of a second round of elections as he prepared to open coalition negotiations. He stated that the country must do everything possible to avoid another vote, recognizing that the process could take months and might ultimately fail.
