Israel election results show Likud leading but no clear majority

Benjamin Netanyahu has said the final results of Israel's legislative election will become clear in one or two days, after early counting showed his Likud party leading but still short of a governing majority. He made the remarks at Likud headquarters in West Jerusalem several hours after polls closed, telling supporters that a right-wing government was needed for Israel's long-term security. With more than half of ballots counted, projections still pointed to a hung parliament rather than a decisive win for either bloc.

According to the figures cited in the early projections, Netanyahu's bloc was on course for 56 seats in the 120-member Knesset, while the alliance led by Gadi Eisenkot was projected to win 49. Likud itself was estimated to be the largest party with about 27 seats, ahead of Eisenkot's Yashar party on 21 or 22 seats depending on the projection. Netanyahu also argued that Israel could not rely on coalitions with Arab parties, which he described as being against the country's existence.

The result matters because Israel's parliamentary system depends on coalition-building after the vote, rather than a direct majority winner. Even with Likud in first place, neither side appears to have a clear path to 61 seats, meaning smaller parties may again determine who can form a government. That leaves the country facing another round of bargaining at a time when leadership, security and regional policy remain central campaign issues.

Netanyahu used his speech to highlight what he described as achievements during his current term, including military and security gains in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and against Iran. He also said Israel had a historical opportunity with United States President Donald Trump to remove what he called the Iranian threat once and for all. The comments underline how closely the election is tied to wider questions of war, deterrence and Israel's regional posture.

The contest has also been shaped by the challenge from Eisenkot, a former military chief who has presented his party as an alternative to Netanyahu's leadership. Early projections have suggested that the two main blocs remain close enough that coalition arithmetic could shift as the count continues. Arab parties may also remain relevant in the final balance, although their role in coalition talks is politically sensitive.

What remains unclear is whether the current projections will hold once the count is completed and whether any late-counted ballots could alter the seat balance. The next stage is likely to involve consultations on who should be asked first to try to form a government. Until then, the main question is whether Netanyahu can turn Likud's lead into a workable coalition or whether Israel is headed for another period of deadlock.

Exit polls in Israel have kept the country on course for another period of coalition bargaining, with the pro- and anti-Netanyahu blocs both projected on 51 seats in the 120-member Knesset. Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud is still expected to emerge as the largest single party, with up to 27 seats, but that is not enough to secure a governing majority on its own. The opposition Yashar party, led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, is projected to win up to 22 seats.

The latest projections leave both camps 10 seats short of the 61 needed to govern alone, while the two Arab parties are forecast to hold 18 seats and could become pivotal in any attempt to build a coalition. The election was marked by high turnout, with the Central Elections Committee saying almost 78% of eligible voters cast ballots, the highest level since 1988. Less than 20% of the vote had been counted when the latest projections were reported, meaning the final distribution could still shift slightly.

The result matters because Israel's parliamentary system depends on post-election alliances rather than a direct majority winner. That makes smaller parties and bloc discipline decisive, especially when the leading camps are separated by only a handful of seats. The projected strength of Arab parties adds another layer of uncertainty, since their support may be needed even as some Jewish-led parties have ruled out joining coalitions with them.

The vote also reflects the wider political strain surrounding leadership, security and legitimacy, with the campaign taking place against the backdrop of the war in Gaza and broader regional tensions. Netanyahu has argued that Likud remains the largest party and that the right-wing bloc has a decisive advantage among Jewish voters. Eisenkot has framed the result as a mandate for change and told supporters that the public had voted against Netanyahu continuing as prime minister.

What remains unclear is whether the exit polls will hold once the official count is completed and how absentee ballots may affect the final seat split. Preliminary results are expected later, followed by consultations that will help determine who is first asked to try to form a government. If neither bloc can assemble enough support, Israel could face a prolonged deadlock and possibly another election.

Late exit polls in Israel have shifted the picture slightly in favour of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc, while still leaving the race too close to call. The latest projections put his alliance on 52 seats in the 120-member Knesset, compared with 49 for the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot. Likud is projected to remain the single largest party with about 27 seats, but neither side is close to the 61 needed to govern alone.

The figures were released after polls closed on Tuesday and remain unofficial until the final count is completed. Earlier projections had shown the two blocs level, underlining how narrow the contest is. Arab parties are projected to win 19 seats collectively, which could make them important in any coalition arithmetic once the official results are confirmed.

The election has been widely framed as a test of Netanyahu's leadership during the Gaza war and amid wider regional tensions. Eisenkot, a former military chief of staff, has presented his Yashar party as the vehicle for change, while Netanyahu has urged support for a right-wing government. The result matters because Israel's parliamentary system depends on coalition-building, and even a small shift in seats can affect who is asked to try to form a government first.

The vote also reflects a broader political landscape in which no single party has ever won a majority in the Knesset. That makes smaller parties and bloc discipline decisive, especially when the margin between the leading camps is only a few seats. The projected strength of Arab parties adds another layer of uncertainty, since their role in coalition talks has often been politically sensitive.

What remains unclear is whether the exit polls will hold once the official count is completed and how absentee ballots may affect the final distribution. Preliminary results are expected on Wednesday, and coalition consultations are likely to follow if the current projections stand. The next key question is whether Netanyahu or Eisenkot can assemble enough support from smaller parties to build a governing majority, or whether Israel is headed for another period of political deadlock.

Exit polls in Israel have kept the race deadlocked, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc and the opposition led by Gadi Eisenkot both projected on about 51 seats in the 120-member Knesset. Two broadcasters put the blocs level, while a third gave Netanyahu's side a narrow lead, leaving neither camp close to the 61 seats needed to govern alone. The latest figures were released after polls closed on Tuesday night and point to a prolonged period of coalition bargaining once the count is complete.

The Central Elections Committee said turnout stood at 77.7% when voting ended at 22:00 local time, the highest at that hour since 1999. Official results began to be published overnight, but about 600,000 absentee ballots, mostly cast by military personnel, are not expected to be fully counted until Thursday. That means the final seat distribution could still shift slightly, even if the broad picture of a hung parliament remains unchanged.

Both camps responded as if the result left room to claim momentum. Eisenkot told supporters in Tel Aviv that the public had voted for change and said he would work quickly to form a government, while Netanyahu told his own supporters that he would seek to build a strong right-wing coalition. Gideon Saar, Israel's foreign minister and a Netanyahu ally, dismissed opposition victory claims as premature.

The two Arab parties were projected to win a record 18 or 19 seats, which could make them important in the arithmetic of any future coalition. The result matters because Israel's parliamentary system rarely produces a single-party majority, so post-election negotiations often determine who governs. The projected strength of Arab-led parties could increase their leverage, even though some Jewish-led parties have said during the campaign that they would not join coalitions with them.

The election also comes against the backdrop of the war in Gaza and wider regional tensions, which have sharpened debate over security, leadership and political legitimacy. Eisenkot, a former military chief, has emerged as Netanyahu's main challenger through his Yashar party, while Likud is still projected to remain the largest single party. Supporters at Eisenkot's headquarters in Tel Aviv cheered the early numbers, while Netanyahu's backers in Jerusalem said it was too soon to concede.

The competing claims underline how closely balanced the vote is and how much will depend on smaller parties once the official count is finalised. What remains unclear is whether the current projections will hold once absentee ballots are added and whether either bloc can assemble enough support to form a government. The next steps are the final tally, consultations led by President Isaac Herzog and the opening of formal coalition talks.

If no candidate can secure a majority, Israel could face another election, leaving the political deadlock unresolved for now.

Updated exit polls in Israel have kept the race deadlocked, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud-led bloc and the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot both projected on 51 seats in the 120-member Knesset. The figures, broadcast after voting closed, leave both camps 10 seats short of the 61 needed to govern alone. Arab parties are projected to win 18 seats, giving them a potentially important role in the next round of coalition talks.

The latest projections also showed turnout among Palestinian citizens of Israel at around 80 percent, which would be a record level and a notable feature of the election night count. The Central Elections Committee put overall turnout at 77.7 percent, while supporters at Eisenkot's watch party in Tel Aviv reacted with cheers as the numbers came in. Opposition leader Yair Lapid said the result amounted to a defeat for Netanyahu's bloc, while Gideon Saar, Israel's foreign minister and a Netanyahu ally, called such claims premature.

The result matters because Israel's parliamentary system rarely produces a single-party majority, making coalition arithmetic decisive once the count is finalised. The projected strength of Arab-led parties, including Ra'am and the Joint List, could increase their leverage in negotiations, even though some Jewish-led parties have said during the campaign that they would not join coalitions with them. Mansour Abbas said his party would try to turn its mandate into a new reality, while analysts said smaller parties are likely to determine whether any bloc can assemble a governing majority.

The election is unfolding against the backdrop of the war in Gaza and wider regional tensions, which have shaped the campaign and sharpened debate over leadership, security and political legitimacy. Eisenkot, a former military chief of staff, has emerged as the main challenger in the exit polls through his Yashar party, while Netanyahu remains the dominant figure on the other side of the divide. The projections also reinforce the fragmented picture seen in earlier reporting, with neither camp able to claim a clear mandate from voters.

What remains unclear is whether the current seat projections will hold once the official count is completed and whether any bloc can secure enough support to form a government. The next developments to watch are the final tally, consultations led by President Isaac Herzog and the first formal coalition talks. Until then, the outcome remains provisional and the political deadlock unresolved.

Supporters of Israel's opposition gathered in Tel Aviv on Tuesday night after exit polls gave the anti-Netanyahu bloc a narrow lead, while still leaving it short of a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. The projections put the bloc on 52 to 53 seats, compared with about 50 for the prime minister's allies. That result means no side has yet secured the 61 seats needed to govern alone.

As the projections appeared on giant screens, supporters of Gadi Eisenkot chanted slogans against Benjamin Netanyahu and celebrated what they saw as a political breakthrough. Eisenkot declared victory and said the result gave him the first right to try to form a government. Likud was projected as the largest single party with 24 to 25 seats, while Yashar was forecast to come second with 21 to 23 seats.

The atmosphere was also marked by a separate gathering at Habima Square, where activists from the Pink Front waved pink heart flags, entered the reflecting pool and toasted with sparkling wine as the first results came in. Among those at the Yashar rally was Ohad Ben Ami, a former hostage held by Hamas and an honorary candidate on the party's list. He criticised the government's handling of negotiations and said the captives had been abandoned.

The projections remain preliminary, and the next stage is likely to be weeks of coalition bargaining before any prime minister is confirmed. That matters because Israel's parliamentary system rarely produces a single-party majority, making smaller parties and post-election negotiations decisive. The result also comes against the backdrop of the war in Gaza and wider regional tensions, which have shaped the campaign and the public debate around leadership and security.

The latest numbers reinforce the fragmented picture seen in earlier projections, but they sharpen the question of who can assemble a workable coalition. President Isaac Herzog is expected to play a role once the results are confirmed, by consulting party leaders and asking the strongest candidate to try to form a government. The final vote tally is still pending, and the seat distribution could shift slightly before the official result is published.

What remains unclear is whether the current lead for the anti-Netanyahu bloc will hold and whether Eisenkot can turn the projections into a governing majority. The key developments to watch are the final count, Herzog's consultations and the first formal coalition talks. Until then, the result remains provisional and the political outcome unresolved.

Exit polls from Israel's legislative election point to another deadlock, with neither Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc nor the bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot projected to reach the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. The latest projections put Netanyahu's Likud-led bloc on 50 seats, while Eisenkot's Yashar-led bloc is forecast on 52 seats. That leaves the result short of a governing majority and sets up a period of coalition bargaining once the count is finalised.

The polls were released after voting closed on Tuesday, and the immediate political picture remains provisional. President Isaac Herzog is expected to ask the strongest candidate to try to form a government once the results are confirmed. The supplied reports say the final vote tally is due on November 4, and that the weeks ahead could involve negotiations among larger blocs and smaller parties.

Arab-led parties are projected to win 18 seats, which could make them influential in any coalition arithmetic if other parties are willing to work with them. The reports also say Likud is expected to remain the largest single party, even if it falls short of a majority with its allies. That combination leaves open several possible outcomes, including a narrow coalition, a caretaker government, or prolonged talks if no side can assemble enough support.

The result matters because Israel's parliamentary system depends on coalition-building, and no single party has been projected to govern alone. The election is also taking place against the backdrop of the war in Gaza and wider regional tensions, which have shaped the campaign and the public debate around leadership and security. In that context, the vote is being read not only as a domestic contest but also as a test of public confidence in the direction of Israel's government.

Netanyahu has served as prime minister for nearly 19 of the past 30 years, and the supplied reports say he has repeatedly survived political crises. Eisenkot, a former military chief of staff, has emerged as the main challenger in the exit polls through his Yashar party. Yair Lapid, the current opposition leader, described the projections as a crushing defeat for Netanyahu's bloc, while Gideon Saar, Israel's foreign minister and a member of Likud, said the opposition was celebrating too early.

The reports also indicate that the Arab-led parties could become kingmakers if other parties agree to join forces with them. That would make the next phase of politics highly dependent on negotiations, party discipline and the willingness of smaller factions to back a governing arrangement. The final seat distribution may still shift slightly once official counting is complete, but the broad picture is already one of fragmentation rather than a clear mandate.

What remains unclear is whether the exit polls will hold once the official count is completed and which bloc, if any, can gather enough support to govern. The next developments to watch are the final tally, Herzog's consultations with party leaders and the first signs of coalition talks. If no agreement is reached quickly, Netanyahu could remain in office as caretaker while negotiations continue.

Exit polls from Israel's legislative election continue to point to a deadlock, with neither Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc nor the bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot reaching the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. The latest projections put Netanyahu's bloc at about 50 seats, while Eisenkot's bloc is forecast at 52 or 53 seats. The vote was held on Tuesday and is the first general election in Israel since the war in Gaza began.

Official results are not expected immediately. Preliminary results are due on Wednesday, with a final tally expected on Friday, and the official results are due to be published on November 4, more than a week after the vote. Turnout reached 74.3% by 8pm local time, according to the Central Elections Committee, compared with 70.63% in the 2022 election.

Polling stations closed at 10pm local time, and the committee rejected a request from Netanyahu's Likud party to extend voting hours. The result remains provisional, but the projections suggest a fragmented parliament in which smaller parties could again determine who forms the next government. Arab parties are projected to win 17 or 18 seats, according to the supplied reports, while Likud is expected to remain the largest single party with about 24 or 25 seats.

That would leave coalition talks to decide whether Netanyahu can return to office or whether a rival bloc can assemble enough support to govern. The election has been widely framed as a referendum on Netanyahu's leadership and on his handling of the events of 7 October 2023 and the conflicts that followed. The supplied reports say the campaign took place against the backdrop of the war in Gaza and wider regional tensions, giving the vote significance beyond routine domestic politics.

In that context, the turnout level suggests unusually high public engagement in a contest with direct implications for Israel's security policy, relations with Palestinians and the shape of its next coalition. The race also reflects the continuing importance of coalition politics in Israel's parliamentary system. No single party has been projected to win a governing majority, which means negotiations among blocs and smaller parties are likely to be decisive.

The reports also note that this is the first election since the Hamas-led attacks of 7 October 2023, a fact that has shaped the campaign and the public debate around leadership, security and accountability. Netanyahu spent much of election day urging supporters to vote, describing the contest as a matter of life and death, according to the supplied material. Eisenkot, a former army chief and leader of the Yashar party, has emerged as the main challenger in the exit polls.

Other political figures have already begun to interpret the projections as a sign of change, while Netanyahu allies have cautioned that the numbers are still preliminary. What remains unclear is whether the exit polls will hold once the official count is completed and how the smaller parties will position themselves in the coming days. The final distribution of seats could still shift, and that may alter the balance between the two main blocs.

The next developments to watch are the preliminary results, the final tally and the first signs of coalition bargaining after the vote.

Polls have closed in Israel's general election, with exit polls indicating that neither Benjamin Netanyahu nor Gadi Eisenkot is on course to win a majority in the 120-seat parliament. The vote, held on Tuesday, is the country's first general election since the start of the war in Gaza. Early projections suggest the result may leave coalition negotiations to determine who forms the next government.

According to the exit polls cited by television networks, no party bloc appears to have secured the 61 seats needed to govern alone. That means the final outcome may depend on smaller parties, which are expected to play a decisive role in talks over a coalition. Final counting could take days, and the result remains provisional until the official tally is completed.

The election comes as Netanyahu faces political and legal pressure, while also seeking to remain in office after a campaign fought against the backdrop of the Gaza war and wider regional conflict. The vote also followed record turnout, according to the supplied report, underscoring the scale of public engagement in a contest that has major implications for Israel's domestic politics and foreign policy. The current impasse means the next government may emerge only after complex bargaining among fragmented political forces.

The result matters because Israel's parliamentary system rarely produces a governing majority for a single party, making coalition-building central to the formation of any administration. In this case, the stakes are heightened by the war in Gaza and by the broader regional tensions that have shaped Israeli politics since the attacks of 7 October 2023. Voters were effectively asked to judge Netanyahu's handling of the conflicts that followed in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran, as well as the direction of his right-wing coalition.

Netanyahu's political position has been complicated by falling popularity and by legal proceedings in Israel, alongside an international arrest warrant mentioned in the report. His coalition has included Otzma Yehudit, the far-right party led by Itamar Ben-Gvir, who serves as national security minister. The report says that party is not expected to reach the threshold needed to help form a majority on its own, which adds to the uncertainty around the shape of any future coalition.

Eisenkot, identified in the report as Netanyahu's main challenger, is also part of the picture in a race that appears to have produced no clear winner. The Knesset's 120 seats mean that even a small shift in support can alter the balance of power, especially when larger blocs fall short of a majority. That makes the role of smaller parties especially important in the days ahead, as leaders test possible alliances and concessions.

What remains unclear is which bloc, if any, will be able to assemble enough support to govern, and whether Netanyahu can remain in power as head of a caretaker administration during the talks. The final count is expected to take several days, and the exit polls may yet be adjusted by the official result. The next developments to watch are the distribution of seats, the stance of smaller parties, and the opening of coalition negotiations that will decide the next government.

#Israel #BenjaminNetanyahu #Likud #GadiEisenkot #Knesset