Donald Trump has not ruled out getting involved in Israel’s efforts to form a coalition government after the election, saying he would “take a look” at the matter.
A US official said the president had not yet decided whether the US would intervene in efforts to assemble the next Israeli government, adding that reports that Washington preferred a specific outcome were “false and premature”.
Trump has previously given his backing to Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party, who earlier claimed that Tuesday’s elections were “stolen” by Arab parties after his right-wing bloc fell short of a governing majority.
The unsubstantiated allegations attack an Arab bloc that claimed a historic 19 seats in the 120-seat parliament, potentially positioning it as kingmaker in coalition talks.
But Balad party leader Sami Abu Shehadeh accused Israel’s main political leaders of “racism” for refusing to form a coalition with Arab-led parties.
“This is racism,” he told Al Jazeera. “We are a legitimate elected leadership of the national minority. The vast majority of our people decided that we are their leadership.”
Read MoreExit polls show no clear winner in Israeli elections. What happens next?
Netanyahu’s fate in balance after historic Israeli election with no bloc on course for majority
I’ve flown back to Israel to say bye-bye to Bibi Netanyahu – and vote him out for the last time
Key Points
- Israel election sees record voter turnout but exit polls suggest no clear winner
- Likud claims election ‘stolen’ by Arab parties, alleges fraud and illicit software
- Netanyahu says Israel has 'historic opportunity' to remove Iranian threat
- Netanyahu calls for formation of 'strong, right-wing' government
- Netanyahu's bloc leads with 55 seats after more than 50% of votes counted
- Eisenkot calls on Netanyahu to quit politics
- Trump credits himself for boosting Netanyahu's electoral chances
Four scenarios that could play out after Israel’s election as Netanyahu tries to cling onto power
05:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarIsrael appears headed for another impasse following Tuesday’s general election, with early counts leaving both prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot short of a governing majority.
With roughly 85 per cent of votes counted by Wednesday afternoon, neither the incumbent’s right-wing religious bloc nor the broad coalition aligned behind Mr Eisenkot commanded the 61 seats required to form an administration in the 120-seat Knesset.
Because key parties have ruled out working with one another on ideological or personal grounds, political analysts note that forming an administration will require at least one faction to reverse its campaign commitments. In the absence of an agreement, Israeli law mandates a return to the ballot box.
Read more:
Four scenarios that could play out after Israel’s election
Arab parties in Israel poised for strongest electoral performance in generations
04:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarArab parties in Israel are poised for their strongest electoral performance in generations, potentially winning 19 seats, up from 10 in the outgoing Parliament.
Their support could prove decisive in helping opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot secure the 61 seats needed to unseat Benjamin Netanyahu, whose alliance also appears short of a majority.
“Netanyahu knows that without the Arab parties, there’s no majority to unseat him. That’s why he incites against us,” Yousef Jabareen, the leader of the Joint List alliance said in an interview.
“The opposition should reject that incitement.”
He added: “The ball is now in Eisenkot’s court. Whoever wants to remove Netanyahu and change his policies – we are ready to cooperate to topple his government.”
However, partnering with the Arab parties, particularly the more nationalist Joint List, risks alienating Jewish voters and splitting Eisenkot’s bloc, analysts have said.
Arab Israelis make up about 20 per cent of the population in Israel but have long been marginalised in national politics.
Netanyahu’s party repeats unsubstantiated claims Arabs ‘stole the election’
02:59 , Maroosha MuzaffarBenjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party has repeated unsubstantiated claims that Arab citizens of Israel “stole” Tuesday’s election, despite the official elections committee finding no evidence of widespread irregularities.
Analysts say Netanyahu is seeking to undermine the legitimacy of Arab voters’ ballots because Arab parties are expected to win a historically high number of seats, potentially enabling his Jewish Israeli rivals to form an alliance with them and remove him from power.
How the Arab vote shook Israel
02:00 , Nicole Lampert
Bedouins on camels, queues around the block: How the Arab vote shook Israel
Israel's high-turnout vote brushed aside in rest of the Middle East
01:00 , James ReynoldsIn Gaza, displaced Palestinian Majed Jundia made no distinction between Netanyahu and Eisenkot, a former military chief.
"They want to eradicate the Palestinian people so they do what they want," said Jundia.
Netanyahu was heavily criticised over security failures leading up to the Hamas assault on Israel's deadliest day.
Portraying himself as the only leader who could protect the country, the consummate political survivor argued that his assassinations of the leaders of Hamas, Lebanon's Hezbollah and their ally Iran made Israel, and the world, safer.
Kamel Haddad, an 81-year-old Lebanese man who has witnessed Israel's conflicts with neighbouring states over decades, expected no changes.
"As for who wins? I couldn’t care less. Let them tear each other apart, what difference does it make to me?” he said. "They might get preoccupied with one another since there are issues between them now. Perhaps they would leave us be for a bit.”
Watch: Netanyahu seeks 'strong, right-wing government' after exit polls
00:00 , James ReynoldsICYMI: Knife attacker shot dead outside Israel's embassy in Serbia
Wednesday 28 October 2026 23:00 , James ReynoldsAn attacker with two knives who wounded a policeman guarding the Israeli embassy in Belgrade overnight has been shot dead.
Serbia's outgoing interior minister confirmed the news on Wednesday.
“One minor, of so far undetermined identity, who is reasonably suspected to be from Šabac, rushed at an officer of the Gendarmerie shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ and attacked him with two knives,” Ivica Dacic said in an emailed statement.
Dacic added that he had raised Serbia's security threat level to red, the highest, and that there would be an increased police presence at key locations. The officer suffered a light head wound, Dacic said.
Knife attacker shot dead outside Israel's embassy in Serbia
Caretaker role could limit Netanyahu but not rule out war with Iran
Wednesday 28 October 2026 22:00 , ReutersBenjamin Netanyahu is expected to face more constraints as Israel's caretaker prime minister after Tuesday's election, but experts say his government could still retain significant powers including when it comes to waging war on Iran.
Neither Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition nor an opposition bloc led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot is projected by Israeli media to win a majority in the country’s 120-seat legislature. Eisenkot has acknowledged the prime minister was still in office as a caretaker but issued a warning that Netanyahu might use security for political ends.
Netanyahu's office has previously rejected accusations he is using the Iran conflict for political gain. His office did not immediately return a request for comment on Wednesday.
“If you look at the letter of the law, a caretaker government has the same authority, has the same powers as a regular government,” said Guy Lurie, a research fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute, adding however that a caretaker government “has a duty of restraint” and more limited discretion to act in some areas.
A caretaker government faces limitations when it comes to issues such as appointments, but has leeway to act in matters where there is a public interest, analysts say.
Trump takes credit for Netanyahu election performance after endorsing Israeli prime minister
Wednesday 28 October 2026 21:00 , James ReynoldsPresident Trump has taken credit for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s performance in Tuesday’s Knesset election.
Trump shared a post on Truth Social on Wednesday that claimed his endorsement of Netanyahu turned around the latter’s campaign and may still carry him back to office.
“When President Trump endorsed Bibi Netanyahu, the whole tide turned, and now, rather than a decisive defeat for a Great Prime Minister, it looks like a big come-from-behind stalemate, or even a WIN for Netanyahu,” quoting Irving C. Schwartz.
“It all took place AFTER the Endorsement by President Trump, who only wants what is good for the Middle East, Israel, and the United States of America!”
Wednesday 28 October 2026 20:00 , James Reynolds Who won the Israel election? Live results as vote counts continue
Wednesday 28 October 2026 19:00 , James ReynoldsResults are still pouring in from Israel’s election yet it remains unclear whether Gadi Eisenkot or Benjamin Netanyahu will lead the nation.
Israel's Central Elections Committee is continuing to tally votes, with expectations that definitive results won’t be drawn up until Thursday. With 92 per cent of the votes tallied, neither side appears on track to win an outright majority in the 120-seat Knesset, Israel’s parliament.
Israel’s longest-serving prime minister was on course to win 53 seats in parliament between his Likud party and allies on the right, well ahead of the 48 forecast for the opposition bloc of rival Gadi Eisenkot.
Who won the Israel election? Live results as vote counts continue
How could Eisenkot rescue a coalition government and still win?
Wednesday 28 October 2026 18:00 , James ReynoldsIsrael’s longest-serving prime minister is on course to win 53 seats in parliament between his Likud party and allies on the right, well ahead of the 48 forecast for the opposition bloc of rival Gadi Eisenkot.
Parties representing Israelis of Arab descent were meanwhile set to win an unprecedented 19 of 120 possible seats, following high turnout from passionately motivated voters in the first elections since the October 7, 2023 attacks and ensuing regional conflicts.
If neither bloc can form a coalition government, the existing cabinet with stay on until another election can be called.
The results could still change, but a victory for Eisenkot looked out of reach save for a deal to accept broad backing from the Arab parties, which many Jewish leaders reject.
In 2021, Netanyahu was ousted from the top office by a broad coalition, which for the first time included an Arab party, Ra’am. But the government soon destabilised, making way for Bibi to return barely 18 months later.
Netanyahu bloc cannot be defeated 'without Arab citizens,' says Israeli politician
Wednesday 28 October 2026 17:48 , Suha KidwaiAyman Odeh, leader of the Hadash-Ta’al list alongside Ahmad Tibi, said Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing bloc would have secured an outright majority if not for the turnout of Palestinian citizens of Israel.
"Without the Arab citizens, Netanyahu, Ben-Gvir, and Smotrich would already be celebrating today," Odeh wrote in a post on social media.
Odeh added that while Arab voters held the balance of power, broader cooperation across the political spectrum remains necessary to break the right's grip on power: "The truth is simple: even the Arab citizens alone cannot bring about the change, and even without us, it’s impossible to defeat them."
"Without a genuine and equal Jewish-Arab partnership, it’s impossible to build a better future here for all of us," he said. "And we all deserve such a future."
Netanyahu pulls ahead in Israeli election as rivals weigh deal with Arab parties
Wednesday 28 October 2026 17:30 , James ReynoldsBenjamin Netanyahu has pulled ahead in the Israeli elections with nearly 92 per cent of all ballots counted, leaving his opponents to weigh an unlikely deal with the Arab parties as victory falls further out of view.
Israel’s longest-serving prime minister was on course to win 53 seats in parliament between his Likud party and allies on the right, well ahead of the 48 forecast for the opposition bloc of rival Gadi Eisenkot.
Parties representing Israelis of Arab descent were meanwhile set to win an unprecedented 19 of 120 possible seats, following high turnout from passionately motivated voters in the first elections since the October 7, 2023 attacks and ensuing regional conflicts.
Netanyahu pulls ahead in Israeli election as rivals weigh deal with Arab parties
Comment: Netanyahu faces a near impossible task to survive – this is why
Wednesday 28 October 2026 17:00 , James ReynoldsThe Israeli prime minister is desperate to stay in power but the success of the Arab-led parties makes his future a lot more difficult, writes chief international correspondent Bel Trew:
Netanyahu faces a near impossible task to survive – this is why
Likud claims election ‘stolen’ by Arab parties, alleges fraud and illicit software
Wednesday 28 October 2026 16:30 , Suha KidwaiBenjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party has claimed that Israel’s election was “stolen” by Arab-led parties, alleging extensive criminal violations at polling stations across the country.
In a statement reported by Israeli media, Likud asserted that “the election in the State of Israel was stolen by Arab parties that support terrorism and the destruction of the Jewish state, through serious criminal offences.”
Without publicly releasing evidence, the party accused the Arab lists of deploying “prohibited” software to mobilise voters, alongside allegations of “bribery, threats, violence, [and] forgery.”
Likud said it has submitted evidence in support of its claims to the Shin Bet domestic security agency and the Central Elections Committee.
The move follows sharp campaign attacks by Likud against the Arab lists, which Arab politicians pushed back on during voting day, accusing Netanyahu of inciting hatred against Palestinian citizens as a “scare tactic to mobilise right-wing voters.”
There was no immediate comment from the Arab-led parties regarding Likud's claims.
Comment: I’ve flown back to Israel to say bye-bye to Bibi Netanyahu – and vote him out for the last time
Wednesday 28 October 2026 16:20 , James ReynoldsMany of us are hoping to stop a record-breaking fifth term for Bibi (which is why I’m flying home to cast my vote), but what worries me is that many Israelis simply aren’t engaging with the need for change, says Yaniv Korman
I’ve flown back to Israel to say bye-bye to Bibi Netanyahu
Elections, corruption scandals and assassination attempts: Netanyahu’s remarkable history of survival
Wednesday 28 October 2026 15:55 , James ReynoldsBenjamin Netanyahu and his allies are on track to win the most seats in Israel’s parliament, despite weeks of polling predicting he would not survive Tuesday’s election.
The central election committee was still tallying votes on Wednesday, and it will likely take until Thursday before definitive results of the election are known.
Current forecasts suggest Netanyahu and his allies will win 54 seats, falling short of the 61 needed for a majority in the Knesset, but also leaving his main challenger Gadi Eisenkot without a clear path to government.
From elections to assassination attempts: Netanyahu’s remarkable history of survival
Ed Miliband ‘deeply concerned’ after MPs detained by Israel
Wednesday 28 October 2026 15:40 , James ReynoldsForeign secretary Ed Miliband has said he was "deeply concerned" after British politicians reported being detained for eight hours by Israeli officials and turned back from the West Bank.
Clive Lewis of Labour, the SNP’s Lara Bird, and Scottish Greens MSP Kate Nevens stated they were interrogated and refused entry on Monday.
Speaking in the House of Commons on Tuesday, Mr Miliband confirmed that the Government has formally raised the matter with Israeli authorities.
Read the full story:
Miliband ‘deeply concerned’ after MPs held and barred from West Bank
Revisited: Gadi Eisenkot: Former Israeli army chief who could topple Netanyahu
Wednesday 28 October 2026 15:00 , James ReynoldsAfter millions of Israelis cast their votes, Gadi Eisenkot has emerged as a key challenger to Netanyahu’s long-standing dominance of Israeli politics. Suha Kidwai reports
Who is Gadi Eisenkot? The former Israeli army chief who could topple Netanyahu
The latest: Who won the Israel election? Live results as vote counts continue
Wednesday 28 October 2026 14:20 , James ReynoldsResults are still pouring in from Israel’s election yet it remains unclear whether Gadi Eisenkot or Benjamin Netanyahu will lead the nation.
Israel's Central Elections Committee is continuing to tally votes, with expectations that definitive results won’t be drawn up until Thursday. With 84 per cent of the votes tallied, neither side appears on track to win an outright majority in the 120-seat Knesset, Israel’s parliament.
The prime minister’s bloc was on course to win 54 seats, while main challenger Gadi Eisenkot’s grouping would take 49, based on partial results shared on Wednesday early afternoon, local time. The remaining Arab-led parties, the Joint List and Ra’am, drop to 17 seats.
Israel exit polls show no clear winner in 2026 elections. What happens next?
Wednesday 28 October 2026 13:40 , James ReynoldsIsrael’s election has ended in a deadlock as no party is on track for a majority of the Knesset, exit polls have suggested.
The stalemate comes after three years of war waged in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran, which have plunged the Middle East into turmoil.
The election is widely seen as a referendum on Benjamin Netanyahu, who is seeking another term after a combined 19 years in power.
But now, the jostling for power between parties to achieve a governing coalition and name the next prime minister could take weeks or even months.
Israel exit polls show no clear winner in 2026 elections. What happens next?
92.9 per cent of ballot boxes counted
Wednesday 28 October 2026 13:13 , Bryony GoochMore than 90 per cent of ballot boxes have been counted for Israel’s election.
Likud, Benjamin Netanyahu’s party has seen a drop in its vote share to 20.74 per cent.
What happens after the results are published?
Wednesday 28 October 2026 12:40 , James ReynoldsAfter the final tally is in, President Isaac Herzog will consult party leaders on whom they want as prime minister and then tap the candidate he believes has the best chance of forming a government.
That nominee has up to 42 days to form a government.
No single party in Israel has ever won an outright majority, so governments are formed by a coalition of parties, and negotiations on forming a government often take weeks. Every Knesset seat counts and small parties can have a big impact by becoming kingmakers.
If the nominee fails, others can get a chance to try. If no government emerges, another election is called, with the present cabinet staying on as a caretaker government.
When will we know who won?
Wednesday 28 October 2026 12:00 , James ReynoldsIsrael's Central Election Committee was tallying votes on Wednesday, and it will likely take until Thursday before definitive results of the election are known.
The committee will also tally hundreds of thousands of ballots by Israeli soldiers, as well as diplomats, who voted from outside the country.
The committee's tallying followed exit polls from major Israeli TV channels. Those polls can help give a general sense of each party’s relative strength but are not considered a reliable barometer of precise results, particularly in Israel’s fragmented political system.
The final vote tally is expected by October 30 and official election results are formally published a week after the election, on November 4.
NEW: Netanyahu at 54 seats; Eisenkot at 49
Wednesday 28 October 2026 11:22 , James ReynoldsCurrent polling suggests Netanyahu’s bloc is on course to win 54 seats, while main challenger Gadi Eisenkot’s grouping would take 49.
Netanyahu’s dominant right-wing Likud party was on course to take 27, with Eisenkot’s centre-right Yashar on 22. Some 84.5% of ballot boxes had been counted by 12:34pm local time.
Likud joins a bloc of Otzma, UTJ, Shas and the Religious Zionism party.
The main anti-Netanyahu bloc around Eisenkot also has support from B’Yachad, Democrats and Beytenu.
In pictures: Scene on Wednesday after knifeman rushed guard at Israeli embassy in Serbia
Wednesday 28 October 2026 11:20 , James Reynolds
Top story: Israel committed war crimes in occupied Palestinian territory, finds UN
Wednesday 28 October 2026 10:40 , James ReynoldsIsrael has committed war crimes and crimes against humanities in Gaza and the West Bank, the UN said in a report published on the eve of the first Israeli elections since the October 7 terror attacks.
The UN commission of inquiry claimed Israel had committed the crimes against humanity of extermination, persecution, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
The report further accused Israel of “intentionally targeting Palestinian civilians” and continuing to commit “genocidal acts” even since the so-called ceasefire agreement in Gaza, with “the intent to destroy the Palestinian people, in whole or in part”.
Read the full story:
Israel committed war crimes in Occupied Palestinian Territories, UN report says
In full: Trump takes credit for Netanyahu's performance
Wednesday 28 October 2026 10:00 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump on Wednesday leapt to take credit for Benjamin Netanyahu’s performance in the Israeli elections.
Writing on Truth Social he shared a quote attributed to somebody called Irving C. Schwartz.
Who won the Israel election? Live results as vote counts continue
Wednesday 28 October 2026 09:52 , James ReynoldsResults are still pouring in from Israel’s election yet it remains unclear whether Gadi Eisenkot or Benjamin Netanyahu will lead the nation.
Israel's Central Elections Committee is continuing to tally votes, with expectations that definitive results won’t be drawn up until Thursday. With 66 per cent of the votes tallied, neither side appears on track to win an outright majority in the 120-seat Knesset, Israel’s parliament.
As exit polls came in, Netanyahu’s bloc was projected by all major news outlets to receive 51 seats - but in order to secure a majority and form a government in Israel, parties need at least 61 seats.
Who won the Israel election? Live results as vote counts continue
Netanyahu faces calls to quit as exit polls point to deadlock with Eisenkot bloc
Wednesday 28 October 2026 09:20 , James ReynoldsBenjamin Netanyahu is under pressure to step aside as Israel’s prime minister after exit polls from Tuesday’s election foresaw a deadlock between rival blocs.
With two thirds of all votes tallied, Netanyahu’s grouping was set to win 56 of the 61 seats needed to form a majority in the Knesset, while his main challenger Gadi Eisenkot would take 48, according to Israeli media.
Both leaders offered competing claims to lead Israel as early results rolled in, with Netanyahu calling for a right-wing government and Eisenkot saying voters had rejected him.
“This morning the people of Israel went to a referendum on the leadership that will lead Israel in the coming years. Tonight we received an answer. The public decided in favour of change,” Eisenkot told party workers in Tel Aviv on Tuesday.
But Netanyahu, addressing a crowd in Jerusalem, said the election provided Israel a “historic opportunity” to eliminate the "Iranian threat" as he called for the formation of a "strong, right-wing" government.
Netanyahu narrowly leads count as Trump claims credit
Wednesday 28 October 2026 08:40 , James ReynoldsBenjamin Netanyahu holds a narrow lead in the Israeli elections with more than two-thirds of all ballots counted, after Tuesday’s vote saw the highest voter turnout in over two decades.
The prime minister’s bloc was on course to win 56 seats, while his main rival Gadi Eisenkot’s grouping would win 48, based on partial results shared on Wednesday morning.
Those forecasts suggest neither would be able to form a majority in the 120-seat Knesset, leaving the door open to prolonged coalition negotiations.
Donald Trump nevertheless took credit for Netanyahu’s performance, sharing a statement attributed to “Irving C. Schwartz” that said the US president’s endorsement had “turned the tide”.
“When President Trump endorsed Bibi Netanyahu, the whole tide turned, and now, rather than a decisive defeat for a Great Prime Minister, it looks like a big come-from-behind stalemate, or even a WIN for Netanyahu,” the statement read.
NEW: Netanyahu bloc at 54 seats with 72% counted
Wednesday 28 October 2026 08:23 , James ReynoldsThe pro-Netanyahu bloc is now at 54 seats with 72.4 per cent of the ballot boxes counted, as of 10:03am local time (8:03am UK). The Eisenkot-led bloc is on 48.
