Opposition bloc leader Gadi Eisenkot vowed to renew and deepen the partnership with the United States and said he looked forward to working with Donald Trump to stabilize the Middle East if he becomes prime minister.

Likud and its allies no longer hold a majority of the Knesset's 120 seats, meaning Benjamin Netanyahu must widen the coalition if he wants to stay in power. President Isaac Herzog has said he will do everything in his power to avoid a new election, whose cost is estimated at over US$ 1 billion.