Netanyahu and Eisenkot face coalition deadlock after Israeli election

Israel’s election produced no clear winner, with exit polls and early counting showing neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc nor challenger Gadi Eisenkot’s opposition alliance securing the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset.

Projections varied among Israeli broadcasters, generally placing the two blocs close together and well short of governing alone. Early results reported by Al Jazeera put Netanyahu’s Likud ahead as the largest individual party, but the BBC cautioned that the count initially favored areas with strong right-wing support and that many absentee ballots, including soldiers’ votes, remained outstanding.

Both leaders pledged to try to form the next government. Netanyahu called for a “strong, national, right-wing government,” while Eisenkot said voters had chosen change and argued that another election should be avoided.

Arab-led parties were projected to win a combined 16 to 19 seats after strong turnout, potentially giving them a decisive role in coalition negotiations. However, Netanyahu and several opposition figures have rejected or resisted relying on Arab parties, complicating both blocs’ paths to power.

Turnout reached 77.7%, according to Israel’s Central Elections Committee, the highest in more than two decades. Once results are certified, Israel’s president will ask the lawmaker considered most likely to assemble a majority to form a government. Coalition talks could take weeks, and failure by all candidates could lead to another election.