JERUSALEM – Israel’s president has called on political parties to avoid another election after Tuesday’s vote produced no clear winner, leaving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot scrambling to form a government.

With more than 85% of ballots counted, neither Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc nor Eisenkot’s opposition has secured the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-seat parliament.

Netanyahu’s bloc leads with a projected 53 seats, while Eisenkot’s opposition sits at 48 seats. The result has thrust Israeli Arab parties into the spotlight, with their representation set to jump to 19 seats.

President Isaac Herzog, who decides which candidate gets the first chance to form a government, said on Wednesday parties must keep “an open mind” to avoid another round of elections.

Arab parties become key players

Yousef Jabareen, who leads the leftist Arab-majority Joint List, said voters had chosen new leadership and anyone wanting to replace “Netanyahu’s blood-soaked government” would need to talk to Arab lawmakers.

However, Jabareen later told AFP his party would support but not join an opposition-led coalition.

“We do not see the possibility of being part of an Israeli government coalition under the current political circumstances, particularly given the ongoing war in Gaza, the settlements in the West Bank” and other issues, he said.

Arab voters, who make up around 20% of Israel’s population, turned out in record numbers on Tuesday. Many expressed anger at the Netanyahu government’s ultra-nationalist vision for Israel and the Palestinian territories.

The ad hoc support of Arab lawmakers could allow Eisenkot to run a minority government, though few observers believe such an arrangement would last long.

Likud cries foul without evidence

Netanyahu’s Likud party on Wednesday accused Arab parties of stealing the election through “corruption, threats, violence, falsehoods and the use of prohibited software” to boost turnout. The party offered no evidence but said it would share proof with authorities.

During the campaign, Netanyahu repeatedly warned voters about Arabs gaining power to energise his base.

Eisenkot and most of his allies have resisted working with Arab lawmakers. But Yair Golan, who leads Israel’s main left-wing party and sits in Eisenkot’s camp, became the first to call for such a partnership.

“We must no longer accept Netanyahu’s racist division between Jewish votes and Arab votes,” Golan wrote on social media.

Iran conflict looms

The political deadlock could leave Netanyahu as caretaker prime minister for weeks while parties try to form coalitions. If negotiations fail, another election becomes possible.

Both Netanyahu and Eisenkot hinted at a potential Israeli attack on Iran alongside the United States.

Netanyahu has ordered two military campaigns against Iran, stopping the most recent one only after US President Donald Trump brokered a ceasefire that later collapsed.

In the days before the election, Netanyahu repeatedly called for overthrowing Iran’s government. News reports, which he denied, said military leaders pushed back against his plans for pre-election military action.

Trump has said the United States will not attack Iran until after next Tuesday’s US midterm elections.

At a rally, Netanyahu said Israel had a “unique opportunity” with Trump to “forever eliminate the existential threat of Iran”.

Eisenkot warned Israel’s security chiefs not to let Netanyahu put his political survival above the national interest.

“Netanyahu, don’t you dare use Israel’s security for your political needs,” he said after the election.

Defence Minister Israel Katz hit back on Wednesday, calling the remarks “an anti-democratic statement detached from reality”.

Focus now turns to Herzog, who reportedly supports a unity government. Such an option could gain urgency if Netanyahu moves to attack Iran, though Eisenkot has publicly ruled out serving with him.

Hebrew University of Jerusalem political scientist Gideon Rahat said: “Maybe everybody lost in these elections but the Arab parties. And for the Arab parties, it’s unclear that they can make use of their huge success.”

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