Israel Election Heads Toward Deadlock: Netanyahu's Bloc Projected at 53 Seats, Eisenkot's Opposition at 49, With Arab Parties Holding 18
An updated 2 a.m. Channel 12 exit poll leaves Netanyahu short of a majority. The opposition and Arab parties combined project 67 of 120 seats but are divided. Turnout hit 77.7 percent, the highest since 1999. Official results are due by Nov. 4.
Israel's first national election since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas massacre may not produce a clear winner for weeks, Fox News reports.
The latest projection. An updated Channel 12 exit poll at 2 a.m. Wednesday showed 53 seats for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing and religious bloc, 49 for the main opposition led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, and 18 for Arab parties. The opposition and Arab parties together would hold 67 of the Knesset's 120 seats but remain divided over forming a government. Earlier exit polls had shown the opposition ahead, and Eisenkot told supporters Netanyahu should accept the result and step aside.
Turnout. Fox cites Israel's Central Elections Committee: 77.7 percent of eligible voters cast ballots by the time polls closed, the highest since 1999. Officials streamlined voting and said anyone in line before the 10 p.m. deadline could vote.
The math. Netanyahu's Likud looks to be the largest single party but short of a majority. Eisenkot could get the first chance to form a government if at least 61 lawmakers recommend him to President Isaac Herzog. Arab parties could recommend him without joining his coalition. Even so, that would not guarantee he could build a majority, and Netanyahu could still be given a turn.
What comes next. Israelis vote for parties, not a prime minister. Parties need 3.25 percent of valid votes to enter the Knesset. Herzog will consult the new factions and pick the lawmaker he thinks can form a government. That person has 28 days to negotiate a coalition, with a possible 14-day extension. Official results are due by Nov. 4, and Netanyahu's outgoing government stays in power until a new one takes office.
The campaign. Netanyahu ran on confronting Iran and its proxies and on his relationship with President Trump. His opponents faulted him for not accepting responsibility for the Oct. 7 security failures. Bennett and other leaders also campaigned hard to the last hour.
Note for readers: these are exit-poll projections, not an official count, and they could change as ballots are tallied.