Israel's October 27 election: Five possible outcomes

Israelis vote on October 27 in an election that could end Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's grip on power, with polls showing a close race between his right-wing bloc and a Jewish-led opposition alliance. The vote for all 120 Knesset seats is the first since the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attacks and the subsequent war on Gaza. No party has ever won an outright majority, so coalition negotiations will determine the next government, with Palestinian-led parties potentially holding the balance of power. Possible outcomes include Netanyahu forming another government, an opposition-led majority, a national unity government, a rotating premiership, or another election if no coalition can be formed. Israel held five elections between 2019 and 2022 due to political deadlock.