Netanyahu, Rival Eisenkot Fail To Secure Majority In Israeli Election, Exit Polls Show

Netanyahu, Rival Eisenkot Fail To Secure Majority In Israeli Election, Exit Polls Show

Israel’s Channel 12 News projected Netanyahu’s bloc to win 50 seats in the 120-member Knesset, down from 68 seats in the previous parliament.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main rival, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, have failed to secure an outright majority in the country’s first election since the October 7 attacks, according to exit polls.

Israel’s Channel 12 News projected Netanyahu’s bloc to win 50 seats in the 120-member Knesset, down from 68 seats in the previous parliament.

Eisenkot’s bloc was projected to secure 52 seats, while Arab parties were expected to win a record 18 seats.

A party or coalition needs at least 61 seats to secure a majority in the Knesset.

The election recorded the highest voter turnout since at least 1999, according to the exit polls.

Officials are expected to begin counting the votes, with final results anticipated within 48 hours.

Coalition negotiations could, however, take several days or weeks, depending on the final results and the ability of political parties to reach an agreement.