**Netanyahu remains Israel's caretaker prime minister following the October 27, 2026, legislative election, in which his right-wing bloc secured 53 Knesset seats—short of the 61-seat majority needed—while the main opposition bloc took 48 and Arab-led parties gained 19.** Official results are due by November 4, with the new Knesset convening on November 10 and the president assigning government-formation duties shortly after. Coalition talks face significant hurdles, as neither major bloc can easily reach a majority without cross-bloc deals, and the opposition has ruled out partnering with Arab parties or Netanyahu himself. This deadlock raises the prospect of new elections in early 2027, during which Netanyahu would continue in a caretaker role with constraints on some actions but retained authority in security matters. Ongoing conflicts, including with Iran, and his ongoing legal proceedings add further variables to the timeline for any transition.