No clear winner in Israel election with nearly 90 percent of votes counted

Live updates

1. 3h ago

   Israel Election Reaches Stalemate With No Clear Winner

   Israel's election has reached a stalemate with nearly 90 percent of the votes counted, leaving no clear winner and sending the country toward weeks of political wrangling. Both major political blocs have fallen short of the 61 seats required to secure a parliamentary majority and form a government. A right-wing bloc led by Netanyahu currently leads the count, but it lacks the necessary votes to claim outright victory. Officials are currently counting absentee ballots while the military has airlifted ballot boxes to the Knesset due to southern flooding, and coalition talks are set to begin for rival blocs.

   Why it matters

   The deadlock sets the stage for a protracted period of coalition negotiations to determine who will ultimately serve as prime minister. Neither side commands a decisive majority, meaning smaller parties will likely hold considerable leverage in the upcoming government formation process. The remaining uncounted ballots are not expected to shift the fundamental arithmetic of the results.

   What is confirmed

   • Israel's election has resulted in no clear winner with nearly 90 percent of the votes counted.
   • Both major political blocs have fallen short of the 61 seats required to form a government.
   • The Israel Defense Forces airlifted military ballot boxes to the Knesset due to floods in the south.
   • The count of absentee ballots is currently under way.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Remaining votes to be counted are not expected to change the overall outcome of the election.

   What to watch next

   • Final certified election results from election authorities
   • Formal commencement of coalition talks by political blocs
   • Developments regarding government formation negotiations
   Sources used for this update (19)

   1. www.aljazeera.com — Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera
   2. Reuters — Israel's election gives survivor Netanyahu a path to keep power
   3. CNN — Netanyahu is the ultimate survivor. But can he survive this time?
   4. mishtalk.com — Trump’s Eight Huge Unforced Errors Will Set MAGA Back for Years
   5. The New York Times — Israel’s Parties Gird for Wrangling to Form a Government, With No Clear Path
   6. The Guardian — Israel election results live: count of absentee ballots under way as coalition talks among Eisenkot bloc set to begin
   7. Al Jazeera — No clear winner in Israel election with nearly 90 percent of votes counted
   8. AP News — Israelis await final election results as difficult choices lie ahead
   9. floridapolitics.com — Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics — 10.28.26
   10. The Times of Israel — IDF says it airlifted military ballot boxes to Knesset due to floods in south
   11. NPR — Israel’s election is deadlocked. What happens next?
   12. www.nytimes.com — Midterm Elections Live Updates: Candidates Barnstorm in Competitive States on Final Weekend of Campaigning
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