<p>Incumbent could turn defeat into another term in office as rival parties erect confected barrier to unseating him</p><p>Hours before the final results from <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/oct/28/israel-election-results-live-updates-exit-polls-netanyahu-likud-eisenkot-latest-news">Israel’s elections</a> were in, several things were clear. Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right coalition had lost its mandate, and the opposition had a firm majority.</p><p>But most of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/israel">Israel</a>’s Jewish opposition ruled out governing with Palestinian-led parties, in the course of a racist election campaign that saw Netanyahu painting Palestinian citizens as an enemy inside the state.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/28/israel-elections-choice-netanyahu-remaining-power-or-palestinian-backed-coalition">Continue reading...</a>