Israel's election too close to call as exit polls show neither bloc with a majority

Ballots were still being tallied in Israel on Wednesday following Tuesday's parliamentary vote. Exit polls and early partial counts pointed to neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's camp nor the rival alliance headed by Gadi Eisenkot, a former army chief, reaching 61 of the Knesset's 120 seats, 6abc Action News reported.

Reports varied on the timing of final numbers. According to 6abc, the Central Elections Committee expected them Thursday. The Philadelphia Inquirer, running a New York Times story, gave Nov. 4 as the expected date for official results.

Initial television exit polls showed Likud, Netanyahu's right-wing party, finishing ahead of all others, including Eisenkot's Yashar, the Inquirer reported. CBS Philadelphia likewise said Likud took the largest share of seats. 6abc called Yashar centrist; the Inquirer labeled Eisenkot's alliance center-right.

Each leader asserted voters had backed him. "The Likud is the largest party in Israel," Netanyahu said, according to 6abc, which added that he rejected any government relying on Arab parties. Eisenkot told his supporters, "The public decided in favor of change," 6abc reported.

Both 6abc and the Inquirer cited the election committee's turnout figure of 77.7%, the strongest showing since 1999. Arab citizens, roughly one-fifth of Israelis, came out in large numbers, and exit polls suggested Arab parties might reach a record seat count, the Inquirer reported. That could give them influence over coalition talks, although Netanyahu and Eisenkot have each previously refused to partner with those parties, according to 6abc.

Yair Golan, who heads the Democrats party within the opposition alliance, claimed victory and indicated he was open to backing from parties outside the bloc, the Inquirer reported.

According to 6abc, the campaign centered on security, tensions with Iran and Netanyahu's conduct of the Gaza war. The Inquirer pointed out that this was Israel's first national vote since the Hamas-led assault of Oct. 7, 2023.

After the count is certified, President Isaac Herzog will meet with party leaders and pick someone to attempt to build a coalition. The Inquirer reported that the chosen candidate gets 28 days and may seek two more weeks. Netanyahu remains in office in a caretaker role meanwhile, 6abc said. CBS Philadelphia said talks might drag on for weeks or months. Citing the Israel Democracy Institute, the Inquirer reported that every past government has taken at least 50 days after voting to be sworn in.

The Inquirer warned that exit polls leave out a large number of votes, including those from soldiers on bases and hospital patients. Should coalition efforts fail, Israelis could return to the polls; they voted five times from 2019 through 2022, according to 6abc.

Compiled by True News from reporting by 6abc Action News, CBS Philadelphia and The Philadelphia Inquirer. Each outlet's original story is linked below.

Originally published by True News: https://truenews.bagleyenterprises.net/stories/539