Israel’s election exit polls indicate a tie between Netanyahu’s Likud bloc and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot’s group, with both securing 51 seats each, falling short of the 61 needed for a majority government. Voter turnout reached 55% by 4pm local time, marking a historic high.
The polls, released after a last-ditch effort by Netanyahu to keep polling stations open past 10pm, show Palestinian parties gaining 17 seats, up from 10, raising the possibility of a coalition government involving Arab and Palestinian groups. Netanyahu and Eisenkot both warned against political use of Israel’s security, with Netanyahu vowing to form a right-wing government.
The outcome leaves Israel in a precarious political landscape, with no single party able to form a government. President Isaac Herzog will select a candidate to form a coalition, potentially involving Palestinian and Arab parties, as the country faces uncertainty over its future direction and security policies.