The results of the Knesset elections in Israel, after counting 100% of the votes, showed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc obtained 53 seats, compared to 48 seats for the bloc of opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot, and 19 seats for the Arab parties.
These numbers are still far from the majority of Knesset seats required to form a government (61 out of 120 seats).
Hebrew media expect Israel to head into complex political negotiations following the elections that took place on Tuesday, as they showed the advance of Netanyahu's bloc without granting him the majority needed to form the government, alongside the rise of the Arab parties to a significant position in the calculations for the upcoming coalition.
Netanyahu, leader of the Likud party, remains at the head of the caretaker government until a new government is formed, while Israeli President Isaac Herzog is expected to begin consultations with party representatives after the announcement of the official results.
The political options are divided between a unity government, a minority government with Arab support, or attracting deputies and parties from the opposing bloc, leading to new elections if a coalition cannot be formed.
In parallel with governmental negotiations, the opposition is considering the possibility of cooperation within the Knesset to change its chairman and influence committees and legislation, even before determining the identity of the next government.