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Counting was still under way the day after Israel's parliamentary elections, with 84.5% of the votes tallied and neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling bloc nor the opposition bloc led by former chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot close to the 61 seats needed to form a government in the 120-seat Knesset.

As the results stood, the ruling bloc had 54 seats and the opposition bloc 49, while parties representing Palestinian citizens of Israel held 17 seats between them, leaving the opposition debating whether to seek their backing.

Count leaves both blocs short of a majority

With 84.5% of the votes counted, the ruling bloc stood at 54 seats and the opposition bloc at 49, well below the 61 required in the 120-seat Knesset. Netanyahu's Likud party took 27 seats, while Eisenkot's Yashar party placed second with 22.

Parties representing Palestinian citizens of Israel were projected to win 17 seats in total: 11 for the Joint List and six for the Raam party led by Mansur Abbas. Within the opposition, the Together Party of former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid was on 12 seats, Avigdor Liberman's Yisrael Beiteinu on seven, and Yair Golan's Democrats on eight.

In the ruling bloc, the ultra-Orthodox Shas and United Torah Judaism parties were each projected at seven seats, as was Itamar Ben-Gvir's Jewish Power. Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionism was on six. Israeli media noted that the seat distribution may still shift after counting ends, but that with the Arab parties winning this many seats, neither Netanyahu's bloc nor the opposition led by Eisenkot could reach a governing majority on its own.

Golan calls for partnership with Arab parties

Yair Golan, who leads the opposition Democrats, said Netanyahu had lost his majority and urged the opposition bloc led by Eisenkot to form a joint government with the Arab parties representing Palestinian citizens of Israel. Golan told the parties in the bloc that joining forces with those Arab parties would give them a Knesset majority.

"Netanyahu lost. I can count up to 120, and 65 is greater than 55," Golan said.

Golan argued that the current picture could not be ignored. "The facts should teach us a very clear lesson. If we do not stop being afraid, we have no future here. We must also end racism. We can no longer accept the racist division Netanyahu makes between Jewish votes and Arab votes," Golan said, adding that Israel had an opportunity to build a change government in partnership with its Arab citizens.

Eisenkot and Bennett seek a Zionist government

Eisenkot told supporters in Tel Aviv that he wanted to build "a stable Zionist government" serving all Israeli citizens. "I and the Yashar team aim to represent all Israelis. Together with my partners on the path to a change government, I will work to implement the decision and will of the public," he said. He called for swift action and for uniting the ranks of society.

Eisenkot said the government would remain committed to the principles he set out during the campaign: recognition of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, work to pass a comprehensive national service law, and a commitment to eliminating Hamas. Those goals clash with the demands of Arab lawmakers who are not part of the Zionist parties, and Eisenkot did not explain how he would assemble such a government given how hard it is to draw Netanyahu's partners to his side.

Bennett, who leads the Together Party and is a former prime minister, told supporters he would do everything possible to build "a Zionist government made up of people who carry out their duty of service, rising above all personal ego." Bennett said such a government would run the country responsibly and serve all of Israel's people, but he too did not name the parties it would include.

Yashar weighs three coalition routes

The newspaper Maariv reported that Yashar officials are considering three options for forming a government: a narrow-based government sustained by outside support from the Arab parties; a coalition with an ultra-Orthodox party or elements of Religious Zionism; and a broad-based government with Likud but without Netanyahu.

According to the report, Yashar officials worry that Netanyahu could launch a military move during the caretaker period and complicate coalition negotiations.

Arab parties set conditions for outside support

The Arab parties had earlier announced they were ready to support from within the Knesset a government formed by the Jewish opposition, in order to block Netanyahu from forming a government again or remaining at the head of a caretaker government. Under the proposal, they would keep a narrow-based government in place without joining it directly.

In return, they demand an end to home demolitions targeting Arab citizens, an end to discrimination and incitement, action against crime, and the creation of a horizon for a political solution with the Palestinians. Eisenkot, who could gain a path to the premiership through the proposal, has not yet responded.

Official results are expected to be confirmed by November 4, after the reviews and objection procedures are completed.

Key takeaways

• With 84.5% of votes counted, the ruling bloc has 54 seats and the opposition bloc 49, both short of the 61 needed in the 120-seat Knesset.
• Parties representing Palestinian citizens of Israel hold 17 seats, including 11 for the Joint List and six for Mansur Abbas's Raam.
• Democrats leader Yair Golan urged the opposition to build a coalition with the Arab parties, while Gadi Eisenkot called for "a stable Zionist government."
• Arab parties offer outside support in exchange for an end to home demolitions and discrimination, action on crime and a political horizon with the Palestinians.