Israel's vote count has been completed with no clear winner emerging, according to Il Sole 24 ORE. The tally leaves Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc on 53 seats, while a rival bloc led by Eisenkot holds 48, Sky TG24 reports. The result points to continued political stalemate rather than a decisive outcome.
Separately, four people have been arrested on suspicion of electoral corruption, ANSA reports. The arrests drew a sharp reaction from Israeli President Isaac Herzog, according to the same outlet. No further details on the suspects or the allegations were included in the reporting available.
The count also confirms Likud, Netanyahu's party, as the largest single party, according to Tv2000. That standing has not been enough to break the wider deadlock between the two blocs.
Attention now turns to coalition building. Il Post notes that some Israeli parties will have to walk back campaign promises if they want to take part in a governing majority. With neither bloc holding a clear path to a majority on these numbers, the bargaining over who enters a coalition — and on what terms — is the next test.
