Israel Election Ends in Stalemate, Arab Parties Hold Balance of Power — SkimNews
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- Benjamin Netanyahu claimed his Likud party won the largest share of votes and mocked pre-election polls, but exit polls showed his bloc tied with the opposition, leaving government formation uncertain.
- Gadi Eisenkot declared victory in a post-election speech, asserting the public demanded change and warning Netanyahu not to exploit security matters for political gain during the transition.
- Arab parties, including Raam and the Joint List, are projected to win up to 18 seats — their strongest showing ever — potentially giving them decisive influence in coalition negotiations.
- Mansour Abbas stated his priority was to ensure a government could be formed to replace Netanyahu, emphasizing Arab voters' shift from despair to hope through historic turnout.
- Isaac Herzog will soon task a party leader with forming a coalition, though neither bloc has a clear path to 61 seats without Arab party support or defections.
- Special votes from military bases, hospitals, and embassies — which previously favored Netanyahu — remain uncounted, prolonging uncertainty beyond the exit polls.
Why it matters: The Arab parties’ projected 18 seats break their historical marginalization, forcing both Netanyahu and Eisenkot to confront a new center of power. With neither bloc able to govern alone, the outcome hinges on whether either can overcome deep political aversion to partnering with Arab parties — a shift that could redefine Israel’s coalition politics.
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