Israel's Election Ends With No Clear Winner

Israel held a major parliamentary election, and the results left the country without a clear winner. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's group of parties is projected to win about 54 seats in Israel's 120-seat parliament, called the Knesset. But a party or group needs at least 61 seats to form a government. That means Netanyahu's bloc falls short, even though it finished first in the race.

Former military leader Gadi Eisenkot is the main alternative for prime minister. He is a retired general who lost both his son and his nephew while fighting in Gaza against the militant group Hamas. His bloc is expected to win around 49 seats, putting him close behind Netanyahu. Exit polls at first showed Eisenkot slightly ahead, but his numbers slipped as more votes were counted.

The two Arab political parties — the Joint List and Ra'am — could be the deciding factor in who leads Israel. Together, they are projected to win 18 or 19 seats, which is better than anyone expected. Joint List chairman Yousef Jabareen said any side hoping to replace Netanyahu will need to work with his party. He declared he was ready to help make sure Netanyahu is removed from power.

Voter turnout was very high in this election. About 77 percent of Israelis cast ballots, which is much higher than the 70 percent who voted in 2022. Many voters said they wanted 'change' when speaking with reporters in Israel. That strong turnout shows how important this election felt to many people.

This election was seen as a test of Netanyahu's leadership. He has been Israel's prime minister longer than anyone else in the country's history, and he built his reputation on keeping Israel safe. That image suffered after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which was the deadliest single event in Israel's history. Critics say Netanyahu was warned the attack was coming but did not act on those warnings.

Eisenkot has promised to launch an official investigation into what happened around the October 7 attack, which Netanyahu has not allowed. The two also disagree about whether ultra-Orthodox Jewish men should be required to serve in the military. However, both men largely agree on foreign policy — they both support military campaigns against Hamas and Hezbollah, and both take a tough position on Iran.

After all votes are counted, Israeli President Isaac Herzog will choose which party leader has the best chance of building a ruling coalition. He does not have to pick Netanyahu, even if Netanyahu's party wins the most seats. The chosen leader will have 28 days to form a coalition, with a possible 14-day extension if needed. If no agreement is reached, Israel could face yet another election.