Israeli Parliamentary election results are announced

The counting of all ballots cast in Israel's parliamentary elections on October 27 has been completed. The Likud party, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, won the largest number of seats, but the political bloc supporting him failed to secure a parliamentary majority.

According to results published by Israel's Central Elections Committee, Likud secured 27 of the Knesset's 120 seats. Netanyahu's main challenger, the opposition Yashar party, led by Gadi Eisenkot, came in second with 21 seats.

The results show that Netanyahu's bloc, comprising Likud and the far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties supporting him, secured a total of 53 seats. Opposition parties won 48 seats, while Arab parties secured 19.

Neither Netanyahu's bloc nor the main opposition forces appear willing to form a coalition with the Arab parties.

As a reminder, a party or coalition needs the support of at least 61 members of the 120-seat Knesset to form a government.

The final official results are expected to be announced by November 4, following a review of all submitted complaints. Subsequently, Israeli President Isaac Herzog will hold consultations with representatives of the parties that won seats in parliament and task one of the lawmakers with forming a new government.