Israel Election Leaves Both Blocs Short of Majority

Preliminary results from Israel’s October 27 election show neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc nor the opposition alliance led by Gadi Eisenkot has the seats needed to form a government alone, leaving coalition negotiations central to the next steps. The projected count gives Netanyahu’s bloc 53 seats, Eisenkot’s bloc 48 and Arab parties 19 in the 120-seat Knesset. A government needs at least 61 seats. Likud, Netanyahu’s party, is projected to be the largest single party, with about 26 seats, but its wider bloc remains short of a majority. The figures are preliminary. Israel’s Central Elections Committee began counting double-envelope ballots on October 29, including votes from soldiers, prisoners, medical personnel and Israelis posted abroad. Final results were due by November 4, according to the committee’s reported schedule. The completed count could affect seat allocations, but the current projections leave both major blocs below 61. The Arab parties’ projected 19 seats could prove decisive in the arithmetic, although their participation or support is not assured. Several opposition leaders have ruled out relying on Arab parties, while Yair Golan, a junior...