Israel final vote count deadlocks Knesset at 53–48 as Netanyahu challenges results

Netanyahu ‘piles pressure on Arab parties’ as Qatar rejects ‘ridiculous’ claims

Oman Observer, The National and Asharq Al-Awsat report that Netanyahu’s bloc escalated pressure on Arab parties after their record 19-seat win denied him a majority, with Asharq Al-Awsat noting National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for arresting Arab party heads. All three outlets carry Qatar’s categorical denial of Israeli allegations of Qatari election funding, quoting Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari calling the claims ‘ridiculous and dangerous’ and refusing to be a ‘scapegoat’ for Israeli politicians’ failures. The National also leads with the completion of the vote count, giving Likud 20.5% and Eisenkot’s Yashar party 16.1% as coalition talks begin.

ترفض أن تكون «كبش فداء لإخفاقات بعض السياسيين الإسرائيليين»

refuses to be a 'scapegoat for the failures of some Israeli politicians'

Oman Observer · The National · Asharq Al-Awsat

Opposition warns Netanyahu seeks to ‘delegitimise’ election as coalition talks start

BBC News and Middle East Eye lead with Gadi Eisenkot’s warning that Netanyahu and Likud have launched an organised campaign to ‘delegitimise’ the election results by accusing Arab parties of ‘stealing’ the vote and voters of being ‘bribed’. BBC News reports that the Shin Bet security agency is investigating whether Arab parties received illegal funding from Qatar and Türkiye following a request from the Central Elections Committee head, while noting Qatar’s denial. Middle East Monitor reports via Ynet and Anadolu that Eisenkot and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met in Ra’anana on 29 October to discuss forming a government ‘as quickly as possible’ after special ballot counting finished.

Middle East Eye · BBC News

Netanyahu loses majority and tries to ‘discredit the results’

Axios reports that after losing 11 coalition seats, Netanyahu is claiming mass voting fraud in Arab communities to deter the opposition from partnering with Arab parties or to prevent the results from being certified. Fox News details the preliminary 93.8% count giving Netanyahu’s bloc 53 seats, Eisenkot’s 48 and Arab parties 19, giving the anti-Netanyahu camp a potential 67-seat majority. Al-Monitor, carrying Reuters copy, frames the deadlock around US President Donald Trump, noting Trump endorsed Netanyahu and now faces prolonged uncertainty over who will lead Israel amid regional challenges involving Iran and Gaza.

Fox News · Axios

100% count confirms Netanyahu’s loss of majority and ‘political paralysis’

Donya-e-Eqtesad and Khabar Online, citing ISNA and Israel’s election committee, report that 100% of ballots have been counted, leaving Netanyahu’s bloc at 53 seats, Eisenkot’s change bloc at 48 and Arab parties at 19. Both Persian-language outlets state that Netanyahu’s coalition lacks the 61-seat quorum to form a cabinet alone and depends on coalition bargaining. Tehran Times casts the result as ‘political paralysis’ in Israel’s sixth election since 2019, noting record 77.7% turnout and certified results due by 4 November while wars continue.

پس از شمارش ۱۰۰ درصد آرای انتخابات، ائتلاف به رهبری بنیامین نتانیاهو ۵۳ کرسی کنست را به دست آورده است

After counting 100 percent of the election votes, the coalition led by Benjamin Netanyahu has won 53 Knesset seats

ISNA · Tehran Times

Israeli police reject Likud’s fraud claims; Herzog denies pardon deal report

RT reports via i24NEWS and Kan News that Israeli police found no evidence supporting Likud’s claims that Arab parties rigged the vote, noting police received 48 fraud complaints—around 40% fewer than the previous election—and the Central Elections Committee dismissed around 80% of 10,000 irregularity reports. Vedomosti relays a report from Israeli broadcaster C14 alleging President Isaac Herzog offered Netanyahu a full pardon in exchange for retiring after two more years as prime minister. Vedomosti adds that Herzog’s office called the report a ‘complete fake’ and stated official results are due on 4 November before faction consultations begin.

В канцелярии президента назвали публикацию полным фейком

The president's office called the publication a complete fake

RT · Vedomosti

Exit polls show Knesset deadlock as Eisenkot vows to replace government

CGTN and the South China Morning Post (carrying AFP copy) cover the 27–28 October exit-poll projections showing neither bloc reaching the 61 seats needed to govern. CGTN leads with Eisenkot’s statement on election night that exit polls—which on Channels 12, 13 and Kan projected 52–53 seats for Eisenkot against 50 for Netanyahu—showed a ‘complete lack of confidence’ in Netanyahu’s government, and relays his pledge to replace it swiftly.

CGTN