Unofficial results after counting about 85% of the votes show that so far Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition has lost the majority, although his own party, the Likud, has been more successful than expected. His main rival, Gadi Eisenkot, former army chief of staff and leader of the newly formed Ishar party, came in second, but his coalition does not have enough mandates to form the cabinet. Israel's captive parliament has 120 representatives and any party, coalition or political movement that can bring at least 61 representatives with them can form a government. Meanwhile, several Arab POW parties and movements won significant votes.
said an interview with Arash Azizi, an analyst on Middle East issues.