On October 27, Israel held elections for the 26th Knesset. These are the first parliamentary elections since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, and the first time since 1988 that the Knesset serves a full term. The main intrigues were whether Binyamin Netanyahu would retain power. As a result, the country got a political impasse. After counting 100% of the ballots, the prime minister's right-wing bloc received 53 mandates out of 120, the opposition led by Gadi Eisenkot received 48, and the Arab parties won 19. None of the camps reached the 61 seats required for a stable government. Likud remains the largest faction with 27 seats, but Netanyahu's coalition has lost the majority it has held since 2022. The opposition will also not form a "majority government" without Arab parties, and such an alliance in Israeli politics remains a rarity and a serious risk. The Prime Minister's party has already stated that the elections were "stolen" by Arab parties with foreign participation, but has not provided evidence. Such results create the preconditions for a prolonged political crisis and the advance of new elections in a country that has been fighting on several fronts for three years. If we ignore the account of the coalitions, the main point is clear. The elections did not promise a change in foreign and domestic policy in any way. Whoever wins the majority, Israel's policy will not change significantly. The differences of opinion between the Prime Minister and the former Chief of Staff are not conceptual or principled. They see different methods of governance and military solutions to this conflict, but not the basic principles of security. Both oppose a Palestinian state and favor maintaining military control in Gaza. The general is also considered the author of the "repulse doctrine", which includes disproportionate attacks on Israel's infrastructure. Figuratively, the victim does not care if there is one control shot to the head or two. The main intrigues have not yet been resolved. Netanyahu cannot feel safe because the election results are losing to his bloc.

On October 27, Israel held elections for the 26th Knesset. These are the first parliamentary elections since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, and the first time since 1988 that the Knesset serves a full term. The main intrigues were whether Binyamin Netanyahu would retain power. As a result, the country got a political impasse. After counting 100% of the ballots, the prime minister's right-wing bloc received 53 mandates out of 120, the opposition led by Gadi Eisenkot received 48, and the Arab parties won 19. None of the camps reached the 61 seats required for a stable government. Likud remains the largest faction with 27 seats, but Netanyahu's coalition has lost the majority it has held since 2022. The opposition will also not form a "majority government" without Arab parties, and such an alliance in Israeli politics remains a rarity and a serious risk. The Prime Minister's party has already stated that the elections were "stolen" by Arab parties with foreign participation, but has not provided evidence. Such results create the preconditions for a prolonged political crisis and the advance of new elections in a country that has been fighting on several fronts for three years. If we ignore the account of the coalitions, the main point is clear. The elections did not promise a change in foreign and domestic policy in any way. Whoever wins the majority, Israel's policy will not change significantly. The differences of opinion between the Prime Minister and the former Chief of Staff are not conceptual or principled. They see different methods of governance and military solutions to this conflict, but not the basic principles of security. Both oppose a Palestinian state and favor maintaining military control in Gaza. The general is also considered the author of the "repulse doctrine", which includes disproportionate attacks on Israel's infrastructure. Figuratively, the victim does not care if there is one control shot to the head or two. The main intrigues have not yet been resolved. Netanyahu cannot feel safe because the election results are losing to his bloc.