Israelis await final election results as Netanyahu remains far from defeated
Exit polls show Netanyahu’s bloc and Eisenkot’s each near 51 seats, setting up weeks of coalition bargaining before a prime minister is chosen.
- On Wednesday, anxious Israelis awaited final results after a high-turnout election where exit polls showed no clear winner. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and centrist challenger Gadi Eisenkot each captured about 51 seats in the 120-seat Knesset.
- This race served as a referendum on Netanyahu's nearly unbroken 17-year rule, with election turnout reaching 77.7% of eligible voters. The Prime Minister had warned that Arab parties were heading to the polls in "unprecedented numbers," dismissing potential partnerships as treasonous.
- Eisenkot pledged to form a government after the vote, promising "a new era — an era of hope" in a speech focused on national unity. Arab-led factions appeared to secure about 18 seats, holding a potentially decisive position.
- As Netanyahu refuses to partner with Arab parties, whose constituents make up 20% of Israel's population, negotiating a majority coalition remains difficult. Eisenkot has left the door open for cooperation if parties recognize Israel as a Jewish state and Hamas as extremist.
- Israel faces weeks of political negotiating or another round of elections early next year with no clear path to a majority. The country previously held five elections between April 2019 and November 2022 due to similar stalemates.
36 Articles
36 Articles
What to know about Israel’s election results as votes are counted with no clear winner
No clear winner has emerged in the vote-counting in Israel’s national elections, and weeks of negotiations may lie ahead as an array of parties seeking to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks a parliamentary majority.
Netanyahu remains ahead in the count, but no bloc comes close enough to the 61 seats needed to govern
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Israelis await election results as votes are counted, in photos
Israelis await results as votes are being counted from Israel’s first election since the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, 2023, set off three years of war.
Israel Election Results 2026: Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot Blocs Neck and Neck as Vote Counting Continues | 🌎 LatestLY
Israel's 2026 general election has ended without a clear winner, with exit polls indicating a closely contested battle between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud-led bloc and the opposition led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot. 🌎 Israel Election Results 2026: Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot Blocs Neck and Neck as Vote Counting Continues.
Gadi Eisenkot: The ex-general seeking Israel’s highest political office
Israel election news: Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar Party, aims to challenge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in elections. Election polls indicate that neither political bloc may secure a parliamentary majority needed for governance. Eisenkot focuses his campaign on security, governance, and military decision-making against Hamas and Hezbollah. His military background and rejection of Arab party inclusion pose challenges in forming a gov…
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