Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his right-wing and far-right allies won 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset. This total falls short of the 61 seats required for a parliamentary majority and is well below the 68 seats the bloc controlled at its peak in the previous parliament.
The main opposition bloc, led by Gadi Eisenkot, won 48 seats, while Arab-majority parties secured 19. Although the opposition combined for 67 seats, neither grouping achieved an outright majority of parliament seats.
As a result, tough coalition talks are expected while the opposition explores options to form a government. The Israeli president has called on the parties to do everything possible to form a coalition and avoid a return to the polls.