No evidence of fraud in Israeli election, commission finds

As of November 5, 2026, Gadi Eisenkot has emerged as a favored candidate to form Israel's next government after an inconclusive election where Benjamin Netanyahu secured 53 seats while the opposition bloc won 48. The Arab-majority Joint List, which holds 19 key seats, announced its support for Eisenkot, significantly weakening Netanyahu’s position. On November 1, Isaac Herzog, Israel's president, urged political parties to negotiate openly and avoid fresh elections after the previous election failed to produce a clear majority coalition. Since then, Netanyahu faced setbacks as the religious party United Torah Judaism (UTJ) declined to endorse any candidate for forming the next government, while Eisenkot received support from Arab-led factions. This development presents a historic opportunity for change in Israel's political landscape, with Arab lawmakers potentially holding decisive power.