Polls by three Israeli television stations pointed to similar results. Netanyahu’s Likud party probably won the most votes, but his nationalist and religious allies were projected to take about 50 seats in the 120-seat Knesset. The opposition alliance led by former armed forces chief Gadi Eisenkot, which spans right, centre and left, was seen winning 52-53. A government needs 61.
The deadlock could prove useful to Netanyahu, who stays in office until a new government is formed.
Parties representing Israel’s Arab citizens may emerge as power brokers. Exit polls put them on a record 17-18 seats, though both main blocs have so far ruled out working with them.
After official results, which are due in several days, President Isaac Herzog will consult the parties and ask the politician he considers most likely to command a majority to try to form a government. If that fails, Israel could face another election early next year. Five ballots were held between April 2019 and November 2022 amid a similar impasse.
Turnout was the highest in decades, with the Central Elections Committee reporting more than 74 percent of eligible voters had cast ballots by 8 p.m., about eight points above the 2022 election.
Netanyahu, 77, has been prime minister for almost 19 of the past 30 years and has survived repeated political crises. He was ousted once, in 2021, but returned to power a year and a half later. This time he ran while on trial for corruption and under criticism over the security failures that preceded the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage.
Eisenkot, 66, campaigned on his military record and a hard line on security while casting himself as a centrist on domestic policy.
The two men differ little on issues of most concern abroad. Both want Hamas disarmed and removed from power in Gaza, if necessary by force, and both seek to weaken Iran militarily and stop it obtaining nuclear weapons. The largest Jewish parties also oppose an independent Palestinian state.
(jh)
Source: PAP, Polish Radio