Final election results confirm deadlock, offering no clear path to coalition

The Central Elections Committee publishes the final results in Tuesday’s Knesset election, leaving both the premier and his political opponents once again without a clear path to forming a coalition government, and heralding enduring gridlock and a potential fifth election.

Netanyahu’s right-wing and religious backers have 52 seats while parties opposed to the premier have 57 between them. The right-wing Yamina party (with 7) and Islamist Ra’am (with 4), have not committed to either side.

Netanyahu would need both parties to achieve a slim majority, but cooperation between the far-right and Ra’am’s Islamists appears all but impossible.

Meanwhile, a potential “coalition of change” of Yesh Atid, Blue and White, Yamina, Yisrael Beytenu, Labor, New Hope and Meretz would have 58 votes, also three short of a majority, requiring the support of either Ra’am or the Joint List.

The official results will be presented to President Reuven Rivlin next Wednesday.