Israel: No bloc has a majority. Arab parties could be key

According to preliminary data from the Central Election Commission, Netanyahu's Likud remains the largest party in the Knesset with 27 seats, down five from the last elections. The ruling bloc, consisting of five parties, secured 53 seats, a decrease from 64 in 2022, leaving Netanyahu's coalition eight seats short of a majority. The far-right parties, Jewish Power and Religious Zionism, gained 13 seats, while the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism maintained seven. The opposition is gaining ground, with the new centrist party Yashar winning 21 seats and the center-right Together party securing 12. The left-wing Democrats doubled their seats to eight. Arab parties achieved a historic high with 19 seats, nearly double from 2022, but their support may not lead to a majority due to opposition from Jewish parties. Discussions for a national unity government are underway, potentially involving Likud, Yashar, Together, and Israel Beitenu, totaling 67 seats. A survey indicates significant…