Israel election results leave Netanyahu in limbo as counts slow

Election results in Israel remained unresolved on Wednesday as the Central Elections Committee processed ballots. With half of the votes counted, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party held 20.6 percent of the vote. Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party trailed with 16.8 percent. Neither figure guarantees a seat count in the 120-seat Knesset. Final numbers are expected in the coming days.

Turnout reached 77.7 percent of eligible voters, the highest level since 1999. Hundreds of thousands of absentee ballots remain uncounted. The high participation rate reflects a divided electorate that watched closely as the tally progressed. Many Israelis had sought a change after three years of war triggered by the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas.

Exit polls from major Israeli television stations indicated that Netanyahu’s governing coalition shrank. They suggested Likud would remain the largest party. Both Netanyahu’s bloc and Eisenkot’s bloc appeared to have won about 51 seats each. Arab-led parties secured roughly 18 seats. This balance creates a scenario where no single side holds an immediate majority.

President Isaac Herzog holds the power to invite a party leader to form a government. He is not required to choose the party with the most seats. If no coalition forms, new elections could be held early next year. Israel faced a similar stalemate between April 2019 and November 2022, which led to five separate elections.

Netanyahu remained defiant in early Wednesday statements. He described his goal as establishing a strong, right-wing, nationalist government. He dismissed the idea of partnering with Arab parties as treasonous. Netanyahu praised Israel’s military achievements over the past three years while facing a challenge from his former military chief, Eisenkot.

Eisenkot has indicated he might partner with Arab parties under specific conditions. These include their recognition of Israel as a Jewish state and Hamas as an extremist group. Some of his likely partners have previously ruled out such a partnership. Eisenkot pledged to form a government and promised a new era of hope in a speech focused on national unity.

Arab-led factions made a strong showing in this election. Mansour Abbas, leader of the United Arab List, declared that his party was present and not on the sidelines. The United Arab List is the only Arab party to have joined a governing coalition, a brief occurrence in 2021. Their 18 seats may make them critical for any future government.

Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir suffered a clear setback in the vote. Many Israelis associated him with the most hardline elements of the current government. He had previously taunted Palestinian detainees and made comments about the population of Gaza. His performance contrasted with the strong showing of his coalition partners.

The election outcome leaves the fate of Netanyahu’s 17-year rule uncertain. Supporters view him as a protector of Israel’s security and Jewish identity. Critics argue he extended the war in Gaza for political reasons and undermined the judiciary. His ongoing corruption trial continues in parallel with the political negotiations ahead.

International observers note that Israel faces strain in its relationships with allies. Public support among Americans has dropped, and European partners have imposed sanctions. Netanyahu faces an international arrest warrant for alleged crimes against humanity in Gaza, which he denies. The domestic political struggle will determine whether these external pressures shape the next government's agenda.