Jewish News Today: Israel's Election Ends in Deadlock as Netanyahu and Eisenkot Both Claim Path to Power

Israel's parliamentary election — the first since the October 7 attacks — has produced no clear winner, with exit polls and early results showing Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud remaining the largest single party but neither the right-wing nor the opposition bloc commanding enough seats to form a governing coalition. According to multiple outlets including JTA, the Forward, and JNS, the opposition bloc led by centrist Gadi Eisenkot appears to hold more total seats than the Netanyahu camp, yet faces its own steep obstacles to forming a government. The result, as Jüdische Allgemeine put it bluntly, is that Israel is "once again stuck in deadlock."

The Numbers: What the Exit Polls Show

Exit polls published as voting ended showed Likud winning between 24 and 26 seats, making it the largest individual party, according to Jüdische Allgemeine. However, JNS and JTA both reported that the opposition bloc led by Eisenkot holds more combined seats than Netanyahu's right-wing alliance. The Forward reported that some exit polls pointed to an opposition majority of as many as 70 seats when Arab parties — holding approximately 16 or 17 seats — are included; other counts cited by the Forward put the figure at around 66. JNS noted that results were still trickling in, with hundreds of thousands of votes yet to be counted, including ballots cast by soldiers and diplomats abroad.

Netanyahu declared victory of a kind, telling supporters that "Likud is the largest party in Israel" and calling for the formation of "a strong national right-wing government," according to JNS. Eisenkot, for his part, announced his intention to replace the Netanyahu government, according to Jüdische Allgemeine. Meanwhile, Yair Lapid, of the opposition, claimed the public had "sent the Netanyahu camp home," a characterisation his opponents dispute, according to Jüdische Allgemeine.

Three Scenarios — and No Easy Path Forward

The Forward outlined three broad scenarios for what comes next: Netanyahu assembles a narrow right-wing coalition; the opposition forms a government with Arab party support; or Israel heads towards another election. The Forward and JNS both noted that the enlarged Arab bloc now significantly complicates coalition arithmetic for all sides.

Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid celebrated the results at party headquarters in Tel Aviv, with Bennett pledging to "do everything, without ego, to form a Zionist government of the alliance of those who serve," according to JNS. Yair Golan, leader of the left-liberal Democrats, called on the opposition to build a coalition "in partnership with Israel's Arab citizens," rejecting what he called Netanyahu's "racist division between Jewish votes and Arab votes," according to JNS and Jüdische Allgemeine.

Not everyone on the right agreed with any accommodation. Itamar Ben-Gvir of Otzma Yehudit warned directly against a unity government with Eisenkot, telling supporters: "Don't make this mistake. Don't destroy the State of Israel," according to JNS.

External Pressure: Trump, Ben-Gvir and Washington's Role

Adding a significant external dimension, Jüdische Allgemeine reported that US President Donald Trump is pressing Netanyahu to exclude Ben-Gvir from any future government he leads. JNS separately reported that Trump stated the United States is "in the throes of having an even greater victory against Iran," with Netanyahu describing a "historic, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" to eliminate the Iranian threat — signalling that Washington's strategic priorities will bear heavily on whoever governs next.

The Forward, in an opinion piece, argued that while Netanyahu may have won votes at home, the harder challenge is now maintaining his standing in Washington, particularly with Democratic figures growing more distant. US Representative Josh Gottheimer told JNS that regardless of who wins, the US-Israel bond will hold: "Our partnership transcends any one leader or political party."

Armin Laschet, chairman of the Bundestag's Foreign Affairs Committee, offered a cautiously optimistic reading from Berlin, saying the chances of "political reconciliation in Israel" had improved — though he acknowledged, as expected, that neither bloc had won outright, according to Jüdische Allgemeine.

Attack Outside Israeli Embassy in Belgrade

In a serious security incident on election day, Serbian police shot and killed a suspected terrorist outside the Israeli embassy in Belgrade. According to JNS, the Serbian Interior Ministry said the individual was a minor, was armed with two knives, and had ties to the Islamic State. The incident is a stark reminder of ongoing threats to Israeli diplomatic missions and their staff worldwide.

Germany Appoints New Antisemitism Commissioner

In Jewish diaspora news, Germany has installed a new Federal Antisemitism Commissioner. JNS reported that Von Schnurbein has succeeded Felix Klein in the role, taking office amid what the report described as record levels of antisemitic incidents in Germany. Von Schnurbein pledged to protect Jewish life and confront hatred. The appointment comes at a moment of heightened concern about the safety of Jewish communities across Europe.

DEI Schemes Failing Jewish Workers in the UK

A survey reported by the Jewish Chronicle found that diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) office schemes in UK workplaces are failing to protect Jewish employees, with the study suggesting inconsistency in how policies address antisemitism compared with racism affecting other minority groups. The findings will concern Jewish community organisations that have long argued institutional responses to antisemitism lag behind those applied to other forms of hatred.

BBC Accused of Double Standards on IDF Reporting

The Jewish Chronicle reported that BBC Verify has been accused of "bad faith" in its coverage of alleged IDF misconduct, with critics noting that the Israeli military was given only weeks to respond to queries covering hundreds of incidents — while comparable investigations into British armed forces cases take years. An opinion piece in the same outlet asked why the BBC did not use Britain's own military as a benchmark when assessing IDF conduct, arguing the disparity demands explanation.

Israel Revokes Travel Authorisations for American Rabbis and Brad Lander

Israel revoked travel authorisations for several American rabbis, activists, and New York politician Brad Lander following their participation in Palestinian olive-harvesting activities the previous week, according to the Forward. The move is likely to reverberate in American Jewish circles, where relations between different streams of the community and the Israeli government are already under strain.

Pittsburgh Anniversary: "The Pain Endures"

Marking 2,922 days since the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, Pennsylvania Governor Shapiro spoke to the enduring grief of that community, according to JNS. Morton Klein of the Zionist Organization of America told JNS that some officials remain unable to "condemn horrific antisemitic acts without including a condemnation of other non-Jewish hateful acts" — a continuing source of frustration for Jewish communal leaders in the United States.

Netherlands to Boycott Eurovision 2027 Over Israel

The Netherlands has announced it will boycott Eurovision 2027 over Israel's participation, according to JNS. The decision is the latest in a series of cultural and diplomatic moves targeting Israel in European contexts, and is expected to draw strong criticism from Jewish community groups across the continent.

What the Deadlock Means for Diaspora Jews

For Jewish communities in the UK, Germany and the United States, the Israeli election's unresolved outcome carries practical implications. The question of who governs Israel — and with whom — will shape policy on religious pluralism, relations with diaspora movements, and the country's posture toward Iran and Gaza. A Netanyahu government dependent on Ben-Gvir, whose inclusion Trump appears to oppose, would create tension with Washington; a Eisenkot-led government reliant on Arab parties would face fierce internal opposition. Either scenario prolongs uncertainty at a moment when the Jewish world, three years on from October 7, is looking to Israel for stability.

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