Netanyahu loses majority in parliament, claims Israeli elections were 'stolen'

Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly lost his parliamentary majority following the Israeli elections held on October 27, 2026, with his bloc securing 53 seats, short of the 61 needed in the 120-seat Knesset. In response, Netanyahu and his Likud party have alleged that the elections were "stolen" by Arab parties through bribery, foreign funding, and fraud. These claims have been largely dismissed by Israeli election officials and the Shin Bet security agency, who, while investigating specific allegations of interference, maintain there is no evidence of widespread fraud that would invalidate the overall election results.

The opposition, led by Gadi Eisenkot of the Yashar party, garnered 48 seats. With Arab parties securing a record 19 seats, the anti-Netanyahu bloc could potentially form a majority government with 67 seats. Opposition leaders convened on November 3, 2026, agreeing to support Eisenkot as their candidate for prime minister in an effort to swiftly replace Netanyahu's government.

However, the path to forming a new government remains complex due to internal divisions within the opposition regarding alliances with Arab lawmakers. The political landscape leaves Israel in a state of uncertainty as negotiations are expected to be challenging, with neither a clear route for Netanyahu to retain power nor an easy formation of an alternative coalition.