Israeli voters turn out in record numbers as exit polls show no clear winner

Voters in Israel cast ballots on Tuesday in a parliamentary election that drew the highest turnout since 1999. The Central Elections Committee reported that 77.7 percent of eligible voters participated, a jump of 7.1 percentage points from the 2022 vote. More than 60,000 Israelis traveled abroad to return home and cast their ballots.

Exit polls from major television networks indicate a close contest between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main rival, Gadi Eisenkot. Channel 12 projected that Netanyahu's bloc would secure 52 of the 120 seats in the Knesset. The opposition bloc led by Eisenkot's Yashar party was projected to win 49 seats. Channel 13 reported a tie, with both sides at 51 seats.

Neither bloc has a clear path to the 61 seats required for a governing majority. Likud, Netanyahu's party, is projected to be the largest single party with an estimated 27 seats. Yashar is projected to win 21 seats. Arab parties are expected to win a combined 19 seats, an increase from their showing in 2022.

Eisenkot told supporters at his party headquarters that the public had voted for change. He stated that the old era is over and that Israel is starting a new one. Netanyahu countered that Likud remains dominant and called for a national right-wing government. He accused television channels of projecting stronger results for the opposition to discourage his supporters.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said his party was projected to win seven seats. He vowed to continue expanding Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir praised the performance of his Otzma Yehudit party. Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats party, said voters had fired the Netanyahu government.

Mansour Abbas, leader of the Ra'am party, said he hoped final results would give the opposition bloc and his party the necessary 61 seats. His party is projected to win around seven seats. Arab party leaders accused Netanyahu of inciting hatred against Palestinian citizens of Israel. Netanyahu described Arab voters as Muslim Brotherhood supporters and accused them of raiding polling stations.

President Isaac Herzog will consult with party leaders and nominate a candidate to form a government. That candidate will have 42 days to assemble a coalition. If no government is formed, Netanyahu and his cabinet will remain in a caretaker capacity. The final tally is expected by Friday, with official results published on November 4.