Israel election results: Netanyahu's Likud biggest party in Israel after all votes counted

The final vote count from Tuesday's election showed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc maintained its lead, securing 53 seats in the next Knesset, while the opposition bloc seeking to replace the premier won 48, according to official Central Elections Committee (CEC) figures released on Thursday after all votes had been counted.

The official vote count was announced amid a Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) investigation into suspicions that foreign entities, potentially including Qatar and Turkey, funneled money into Israel to influence voter turnout in the Arab sector.

CEC Chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg directed Shin Bet head David Zini to investigate the suspected foreign funding and election interference.

The CEC later stated that the integrity of the vote at polling stations had been maintained.

The official vote count announced on Thursday included the remaining double-envelope ballots, which were the last to be counted.

Most TV channel polls before the elections showed Likud receiving significantly fewer seats, while the other parties in Netanyahu's bloc, such as Shas and Otzma Yehudit, were projected to gain more.

The opposition bloc, comprising Yashar, B’Yachad, Yisrael Beytenu, and the Democrats, is expected to enter the Knesset with 48 seats, according to data from the CEC.

Most TV channel polling before the elections had shown the opposition bloc in the lead, and Yashar was projected to be the largest party in the Knesset.

The small right-wing parties hovering near the electoral threshold, Ofer Winter’s People of Israel and Yoaz Hendel’s The Reservists-Economic party, both fell short of the required 3.25% threshold.

The Joint List was projected to win 11 seats, while Ra’am was projected to secure eight seats in the next Knesset.

The prospect of a unity government involving Netanyahu and Eisenkot remains possible, though Eisenkot had previously rejected serving under Netanyahu, including in a rotation government. Other opposition leaders have also ruled out joining a coalition led by the prime minister.

The political deadlock could also ultimately lead to another election, although the parties may still reach an agreement through coalition negotiations.

President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday called on political leaders to approach coalition negotiations with open minds, warning that Israel must do everything possible to avoid another round of elections.

He also called for a full investigation into the Qatari election interference allegations on Thursday amid the Shin Bet investigation, while warning against the threat of delegitimizing the voting process.

Golan met with Ra'am party leader Manour Abaas and has called for the opposition bloc to form a government with the Arab parties. He also held separate meetings with Eisenkot and opposition leader Yair Lapid on Thursday.

Eisenkot and Bennett also separately met on Thursday, stating that they discussed forming a new government as quickly as possible.

Meanwhile, Liberman reiterated on Thursday that he would not sit with the Arab parties or Netanyahu, following reports that he was ignoring the phone calls of his fellow opposition members.

"The only coalition we would consider is one made up exclusively of Zionist parties, including Likud without Bibi [Netanyahu]," Liberman stated.

All other opposition party leaders expect Golan in the bloc seeking to replace Netanyahu had drawn a red line to Arab parties being part of the government, arguing that they are not viable coalition partners after the October 7 Hamas attacks in 2023.

Eisenkot has called for the leader of the largest party in the opposition bloc to become its candidate for prime minister, though no agreement on the arrangement has been announced within the bloc.

The political deadlock also raised the possibility of a minority government being formed that could win a Knesset confidence vote without holding an absolute majority of 61 seats. In that scenario, Arab parties could agree to support the opposition bloc. Members of the Arab parties have called to do whatever is possible to prevent Netanyahu from remaining in office.

However, objection within the opposition bloc to relying on Arab parties could complicate such an arrangement. Liberman had openly rejected such an option ahead of the elections.

The recent Shin Bet investigation into Qatari influence in the elections could also reduce the likelihood of such a situation.

The investigation prompted Netanyahu's Likud to demand that no Zionist party "cooperate with Ra'am and the Joint List."

The Likud also demanded, "immediate action, using all the means at the disposal of the Shin Bet and the police, to investigate these crimes."

Likud had separately accused the Arab parties of allegedly stealing the election through widespread electoral fraud, bribery, intimidation, and ballot manipulation, demanding an immediate investigation by law enforcement authorities.

All opposition party leaders also called on the Shin Bet and the CEC chairman to conduct a full and thorough investigation into Qatari influence in the elections.

Eisenkot said he was in contact with the relevant authorities and warned against political actors exploiting the situation to influence the swearing-in date of the 26th Knesset.

He later released a statement accusing Netanyahu of launching an organized campaign to delegitimize Tuesday's election results, vowing to prevent any delay in the new Knesset's swearing-in.

Ra'am chairperson Mansour Abbas also welcomed the decision to investigate, adding that his party was not connected in any way to the situation.