Israel election results: Netanyahu bloc wins 53 seats, opposition holds 48, Arab parties skyrocket

A road sign stands in front of a large billboard featuring Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) of the Likud party and former military chief and leader of the centrist Yashar party, Gadi Eisenkot, in Ramat Gan on October 20, 2026.
Joint List party chairman Yousef Jabareen and supporters gather at the party’s election headquarters in the northern Israeli city of Nazareth, October 27, 2026.
Prime Minister and Likud party chairman Benjamin Netanyahu at the Likud party’s election headquarters in Jerusalem, October 28, 2026.

Netanyahu's bloc leads with 53 seats to opposition's 48 after 4.8 million votes counted

Live Updates

Israel's opposition must form 65-seat majority coalition with Arab parties, Democrats' Golan says

Leader of the Democrats party Yair Golan and Ra'am party head MK Mansour Abbas attend a conference at Givat Haviva, January 6, 2026
Israeli soldiers walk near an Israeli Irone Dome defence system (L), a surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, the MIM-104 Patriot (C), and an anti-ballistic missile the Arrow 3 (R) during Juniper Cobra's joint exercise press briefing at Hatzor Israeli Air Force Basel, on February 25, 2026.

US moves Patriot missile defense system from Texas to Israel ahead of possible Iran strikes

REPORT
ANALYSIS
MK Mansour Abbas attends a plenum session and a vote on a bill to split the duties and powers currently held by the attorney general between two separate officeholders, at the assembly hall of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, July 15, 2026.

After elections, Israeli Arabs now have political power - will their leaders use it?

COMMENT

It’s time to set ego aside: Netanyahu, Eisenkot must form unity government

US President Donald Trump (R) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) walk inside after Netanyahu arrived at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida; December, 2025.

Trump claims endorsement of Netanyahu shifted momentum in Israel's election

Otzma Yehudit party chairman and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir seen at his party’s election headquarters in Modi'in, October 28, 2026

Trump wants Ben-Gvir, Smotrich out of Israel's next government, US sources tell 'Post'

Illustrative image of Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot

Israel election night: What did Israeli polls indicate after ending of voting?

IDF released the names of three terrorists killed in the Gaza Strip.

IDF kills numerous terrorists in Gaza strikes, including Oct. 7 kidnapper of Alexander Dancyg

 President Isaac Herzog.

Netanyahu or Eisenkot? Israel's election leaves Herzog with an impossible choice

COMMENT
Protesters take cover behind a plywood board as French riot police and gendarmes use a water canon amid clashes during an authorised demonstration organised by labor unions in Paris, October 24, 2026.

'If we burn, you burn with us!': Why a Gen Z youth wave of protest is sweeping Europe

ANALYSIS

Election Night: Netanyahu's bloc overtakes opposition, but both fall short of majority

 Billboard encouraging to cast their votes, in Tel Aviv during Election Day, October 27, 2026.

Arab parties Ra'am, Joint List rise to 19 seats amid high turnout, election polling data shows

Anti-Netanyahu bloc vows not to let chance to replace government slip away

Yashar party chairman Gadi Eisenkot alongside members of his party at the party’s election headquarters in Tel Aviv, following the closing of polling stations and the release of exit poll results on Israel’s general election night, October 28, 2026.

Ben-Gvir, RZP to win combined 13 seats after 4.8 million votes counted, CEC says

Otzma Yehudit party chairman and Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, alongside members of his party, at the party’s election headquarters in Modiin, on Israel’s general election night, October 28, 2026.

Netanyahu calls for right-wing government, warns against reliance on Arab parties

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at Likud headquarters following the release of exit polls.

Can business save Israel-Australia relations? Ambassador says there is still hope

Israeli Ambassador to Australia Hillel Newman.

Court rules 2-1 against expanding Mandelblit testimony as judge queries investigative actions

Former attorney-general Avichai Mandelblit walks into the courtroom at the Jerusalem District Court, October 25, 2026.

Effi Nave, Eitan Orenstein judicial probe transferred to Tel Aviv prosecutors for review

ANALYSIS

Israel has voted, but the coalition deadlock is just beginning

A child looks at a banner depicting Prime Minister and Likud party leader Benjamin Netanyahu, during the country's national elections in Jerusalem, October 27, 2026.

Liberman's Yisrael Beytenu projected to win seven seats in next Knesset, election data predicts

Yisrael Beiteinu party chairman MK Avigdor Liberman at the party’s election headquarters in Tel Aviv, on Israel’s general election night, October 27, 2026.

Bennett's B'Yachad projected to win 12 seats in next Knesset, election polling data predicts

A worker walks on an empty platform next to trains following the collision of two high-speed trains between the towns of Mora and Orgaz, at Atocha train station in Madrid, Spain, October 28, 2026.

At least 64dead after two high-speed trains collide in Spain, causing derailment of two wagons

Democrats party chairman Yair Golan and members of his party celebrate at the party’s election headquarters in Tel Aviv, following the release of exit poll results on Israel’s general election night, October 27, 2026.

Yair Golan's Democrats projected to win eight Knesset seats in 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.

Shas, UTJ projected to win 14 seats in next Knesset, CEC says after 4.8 million votes counted

(L-R) Yoaz Hendel, Ofer Winter, and Moti Leitner

People of Israel, Reservists-Economic Party, Haredi Public all projected to fall short of threshold

American, Israeli Jews report stronger bonds despite challenges of recent years, survey finds

American Jews [Illustrative]

UK urged to classify anti-Zionism as extremism, ban marches near Jewish institutions

STUDY

Some 75% of Jewish employees find workplace DEI approaches inconsistent on antisemitism

A Jewish man works in an office.
INTERVIEW

‘We bear the consequences’: Diaspora Jews fear fallout from Israel’s election

Voters casting ballots in Israel's 25th Knesset election

Netherlands to sit out Eurovision for second year in protest of Israel’s participation

How is the Muslim world reporting on Israel’s election?

Illustrative: A voting box in the an Israeli election in 2015.

Palestinians protest against military demolitions in West Bank as Israelis vote

ANALYSIS

Iraqi PM al-Zaidi arrives in Syria in landmark post-Assad summit on security, trade

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani shakes hands with Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni in Doha, Qatar, October 6, 2026.

Qatari mediators present peace deal to Iran in mediation effort, official says

Settlers in the Mateh Binyamin area, a regional council governing 47 Israeli settlements and outposts in the West Bank. November 02, 2025. (Illustrative)

New settlement outposts opening in Hebron Hills in response to Yehuda Junction attack

After three years of war, division, Israelis vote in record numbers to shape their future

EDITORIAL
Israelis cast their votes at a polling station in Jerusalem during Election Day, October 27, 2026.

Israel's election reveals a democracy of contradictions

OPINION
COMMENT

Eisenkot and Netanyahu have reason to celebrate, but Israel does not, yet

(L-R): Yashar head Gadi Eisenkot; Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
ANALYSIS

Arab voter turnout would have been lower had there been any other outgoing government

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

Arab voter turnout surges past 2022 figures as haredi strongholds lag behind

Netanyahu has turned Israel into a defense-tech powerhouse and a model US ally

OPINION
FILE PHOTO: US President Donald Trump points his finger towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as they shake hands during a press conference after meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, US, December 29, 2025

Israel, Greece conduct joint naval exercise for operational scenarios, sinking hostile ships

Israel to supply Cyprus with new offshore patrol vessel equipped with Rafael systems

Magos' counter drone system

As drone threat grows, Magos expands commercial security capabilities

Arbel system

Thailand receives IWI's ARBEL anti-drone solution

Flavio Bolsonaro and family to receive US visas after leaving Brazil, State Department says

Brazilian presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro of the Liberal Party (PL) arrives to speak after losing the presidential runoff election, in Brasilia, Brazil October 25, 2026.

Hacker trying to breach US Federal Election Commission system, email shows

Two men charged in UK with helping Iran over RAF Fairford incident

US Air Force bombers sit on the tarmac at RAF Fairford base in Fairford, south-west England on September 28, 2026, a day after British counter-terrorism police were probing "a major" incident near the base.

Knife attacker killed outside Israel's embassy to Serbia after guard attacked, Serbian police say

Riot police officers stand guard in front of the TV Pink building in Belgrade, Serbia, October 26, 2026.

How is the Western world reporting on Israel's 26th Knesset elections?

Israelis cast their votes at a polling station in Jerusalem during Election Day, October 27, 2026.

G-d, Love & Blues and a Bit of Whiskey

Eduard Shyfrin explores the search for balance, faith and inner peace through his music.

Mark Wilf at The Jewish Agency: Building connection, unity, and trust

Mark Wilf visits a summer camp hosting Israeli teens from the Campers2Gether program

Hebrew University start-up wins Asper Prize for approach to cancer treatment

ViVac Pharma celebrates winning the 2026 Asper Prize at Hebrew University. From left: Prof. Tamir Sheafer, Dr. Lior Nissim, Keren Leshem, Gail Asper and Dr. Amnon Dekel.

Israeli AI start-up NanoCo brings governance and security to enterprise AI agents

Cybersecurity global dominance.

Israelis head to polls with open wallets as Election Day spending rises sharply from 2022 election

Former senior Tax Authority officials among 11 suspects in NIS 80 million fraud probe

An Israel Police officer standing outside the headquarters of Lahav 433 - The National Crime Unit; illustrative.

AI giant Anthropic, developer of Calude AI model, launches IPO filing, reveals $16b. revenue

Anthropic, an AI safety and research company, has dedicated teams to rigorously stress-test their models for potential risks and to design protective safeguards, but these defenses often remain fragile.

Intel agrees to buy Classiq in biggest Israeli acquisition since Mobileye

Water rationing, garbage pile-up raise disease fears in Yemen's besieged Taiz

Workers collect garbage from a street in the southwestern city of Taiz, Yemen, October 20, 2026.

Nepal urges villagers to evacuate after flood triggered by landslide, no casualties, five missing

Earthquake of magnitude 7 strikes China's Tibet, killing 16, Xinhua reports

This view shows a collapsed building and damaged cars after a 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck the country, in Penonome, Panama, on October 9, 2026.

Israeli expat recounts destruction, home collapse in magnitude 7.7 Panama earthquake

Ships by the Eilat port, Red Sea, on January 03, 2024.

Eilat records first rain of year as authorities issue flash flooding warning in Dead Sea region

Machete wielding mob attack health workers responding to Ebola in Congo

Health workers and humanitarian responders on the front lines of the Ebola response gather to receive a vaccination due to their potential exposure to the virus as part of their work with suspected cases  in the North Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, October 16, 2026.

French patient dies after Shamonda virus detected in human for first time

IDF, Defense Ministry struggle with amount of reservists seeking mental health care, experts say

High Court strikes down petition to end sperm donor anonymity

Nigeria Ebola patient and spouse admitted to hospitals in Switzerland

Former Prisoners of Zion, aliyah activists, discuss plans for new Soviet Jewry heritage center

Alex Silnitsky addresses a gathering of former Prisoners of Zion and aliyah activists at the Heritage Ministry in Jerusalem on October 5.

Lone soldiers, b'not sherut find a true home at the Michael Levin Base

French political turmoil may affect olim with restrictions on transferring money out of country

Immigrants from France are welcomed to Israel at Ben-Gurion Airport in August.

She made aliyah at 16 - today, she's teaching the next generation about AI

AT HEBREW UNIVERSITY.

ANU marks Aliyah Day with a tribute to Jewish dining, memories, traditions

Visitors at the ANU Museum of the Jewish People, in Tel Aviv, on January 19, 2025.

Where the sea meets sophistication

Architecture: Yashar Architects

Make your Jerusalem aliyah dream come true! The Crown in Mekor Chaim 55

WATCH

Selichot above Jerusalem: An evening of music, reflection and connection

Image for illustration purposes only.

In the middle of the triangle

The New Talpiot project.

‘New Talpiot’: A global community in one of Jerusalem’s most sought-after locations

All JPost Conferences   

The Jerusalem Post Diplomatic Conference returns to Jerusalem

Diplomatic Conference

Heading ‘Down Under’: The Jerusalem Post announces Sydney Summit

Sydney, Australia Summit

Past Event - Building tomorrow, today: Jerusalem Post Washington Conference heads to Capitol Hill

Jerusalem Post Washington Conference

Conference   

Bini Zomer, GM for Corporate Affairs & Joint Ventures at Chevron Mediterranean Limited

Chevron’s GM for Corporate Affairs and Joint Ventures at Jpost Diplomatic Conference

“Let's tell the incredible story of this place”

Mekorot’s Shira Singer on the future of water infrastructure

MDA Heroes   

 Michaela Berku: "Doing good is the best therapy."

Michaela Berku on volunteering, MDA, and saving lives through service

MDA Women's Circle launches new year with "Adopt a Paramedic" initiative

'I’ll keep showing up': MDA paramedic who saved dozens on Oct 7 recounts 600 days

Podcasts   

Democrats party chairman Yair Golan casts his vote at a polling station in Rosh HaAyin, central Israel, during Israel’s general elections, October 27, 2026.

Netanyahu projected with 54 seats as Yair Golan calls for Arab-included opposition majority

Israel Election 2026: Pollster Shmuel Rosner says Israelis have already made up their minds

Netanyahu meets with Hegseth days before election as Hanegbi backs Liberman

US Politics   

Hacker attack

Hacker trying to breach US Federal Election Commission system, email shows

Michigan's El-Sayed campaign disavows PAC ad linking US inflation to Israel

Ex-FBI chief Comey faces third prosecution attempt by Trump Justice Department

Diaspora   

American Jews [Illustrative]

American, Israeli Jews report stronger bonds despite challenges of recent years, survey finds

Legendary Jewish actor Walter Koenig, 'Star Trek's' plucky Chekov, dies at 90

Pope Leo meets with AJC delegation, reaffirms condemnation of antisemitism

Judaism   

'The Talmud Chronicles.'

‘Extra, extra!’ New book brings ancient Talmudic texts to life for readers of all ages

Parashat Lech Lecha: Having the courage to stand alone

Parashat Lech Lecha: There is no wisdom like that gained through experience

Christian World   

 Pope Leo XIV speaks as he attends a meeting with the authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps in Luanda, Angola, April 18, 2026.

Pope Leo had lobe of lung removed as doctors found cancer, Vatican says

Friends of Zion says October 7 broadcast reached 250 million in 176 countries

Christian tourists buy West Bank settlement goods in protest of European trade restrictions

Food   

The main course at Benny Hadayag was a platter with a whole baked sea bass alongside sweet and regular potatoes (NIS 155-165).

'We wanted to keep Shabbat': Benny Hadayag seafood restaurant in Herzliya becomes kosher

Wine talk: From vine to glass

Brewed with barley from Be’eri's fields, a new Israeli beer brings new life after October 7

Archaeology   

A Yarmukian juglet found in a cave in Samaria.

Ancient wildfires in the Levant may have inspired Neolithic pottery-making, Israeli study suggests

Israeli researchers use ancient stone tools to trace hunter-gatherer migrations

Prehistoric hunter-gatherers stayed connected across 200 kilometers, Israeli study finds

Science   

Hula valley's Gesher Benot Ya’aqov.

Using an 800,000-year-old tooth, researchers unlock the secrets of Israel’s ancient elephant haven

Japan launches uncrewed space mission to become first to gather samples from Mars' moon Phobos

Ancient sheep virus traced through DNA preserved in medieval manuscripts

Culture   

GOLAZIN ARDESTANI attends the Haifa festival this week.

Iranian singer Gola brings message of hope to Haifa International Film Festival

Israeli director Erez Tadmor takes ‘Matchmaking 3’ to New York - and reveals its unlikely secret

Not sheepish: Israel Museum reveals a different side of Menashe Kadishman’s art

History   

Oscar Levis, known early in his career as “Chick Levy,” and later as “Oscal,” was celebrated as the premier pitcher in Panama before joining the Cuban Stars and Hilldale Daisies in the Negro Leagues.

The discovery of a Jewish Negro League star forces a rewrite of Jewish baseball history

The forgotten German who saved Jews in Japan - and the diary that resurfaced 80 years later

Saved from Nazi-occupied Prague, thousands of Torah scrolls find new life through a Satmar scribe

OMG   

Actor Selma Blair attends Variety’s 2026 Power of Women: Los Angeles event in Beverly Hills, California, US September 23, 2026.

Actor Selma Blair arrested, accused of abusing flight attendants

Former England soccer star Wayne Rooney says grandma was Polish Jew during Auschwitz visit

'Looksmaxxing' influencer Clavicular charged with rape in Massachusetts amid legal troubles

Travel   

Entrance and lantern tours. Timna Park.

Arava offers 28 attractions for NIS 130 until April: What does it include?

New route launched from Haifa to beloved Greek city

Madrid Bound: Israir launches direct flights to Spain's capital

David Alexander, Deputy CEO of Phoenix Financial

Israel’s hidden strength: Institutional capital pools

Israel can no longer afford the privileges of adolescent behavior

Evolving regional economic opportunities

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