Israeli vote leaves power vacuum as counts stall
With 60% of ballots counted, neither Netanyahu nor Eisenkot holds a majority, forcing a long coalition search.
By Vikram Harrison ·
No clear winner emerged from Israel's national election as dawn broke on Wednesday. Exit polls released by major television stations indicate that neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor his main rival, Gadi Eisenkot, secured the 61 seats needed to control the Knesset. This stalemate sets the stage for weeks of negotiations to form a governing coalition.
Official data from the Central Elections Committee shows that 60% of votes have been counted. In that portion, Netanyahu's Likud party holds 21.4% of the vote, while Eisenkot's Yashar party holds 16.2%. The data does not yet translate these percentages into specific parliamentary seats. Netanyahu remains the interim caretaker head of government until a new prime minister is declared.
The inconclusive result reflects a country deeply divided over leadership and the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack. The election also sparked debate over the strong turnout among Arab citizens. The left-leaning Haaretz noted that Arab parties are participating in a political arena that often seeks to exclude them. The outlet warned that ignoring this participation would harm the democratic bloc's future.
President Isaac Herzog now holds the ceremonial power to task a leader with forming a government. While Likud has the most votes among the 60% counted, Herzog is not required to choose Netanyahu. Some in Israel argue that selecting a different figure might ease the coalition-building process given the current polarization.
Military turnout was a notable factor in the count. The Israeli military reported that 79.9% of its personnel voted, a rise of more than six percentage points from the previous election. Polling stations were established in combat areas to accommodate service members. These votes have not yet been fully processed into the public tally.
U.S. President Donald Trump reacted to the results on Wednesday from Joint Base Andrews. He disputed reports of a Netanyahu defeat, stating, "I actually heard he did pretty well." Trump noted it was too early for a final verdict and said he had not yet spoken with the Israeli leader. Trump had endorsed Netanyahu late in the campaign.
In Jerusalem, Netanyahu addressed supporters past 3 a.m. Wednesday. He claimed Likud would be the largest party in the next parliament and pledged to finish the job against Iran. He also warned against forming a government that relies on Arab parties. In Tel Aviv, Eisenkot celebrated the result as a vote for change. He promised a new era of hope and called for national unity.
