Israel Election Ends in Apparent Deadlock as Exit Polls Show No Clear Majority

Israel's general election on Tuesday ended in an apparent deadlock, with exit polls by major television networks showing that neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor his main rival Gadi Eisenkot is on track for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. Polls officially closed at 10 p.m. local time after a day that saw high voter turnout, with participation climbing to 66.7 percent by 6 p.m., marking the highest turnout at that hour since hourly numbers were first recorded in 1973.

Election Day Tension

Ahead of the close, Mr. Netanyahu's Likud Party had asked election authorities to keep polling stations open past 10 p.m., but the Central Elections Committee rejected the request. The committee confirmed that voters already standing in line at closing time would still be allowed to cast their ballots. During the day, Mr. Netanyahu warned in a video that Arab voters in the southern region were racing to the ballots and claimed opponents were trying to steal the election. He also addressed reports that three people were arrested carrying money-filled envelopes on suspicion of voter bribery, calling the incident serious and criminal.

Context

This pivotal national vote is Israel's first since the October 7 attacks and the subsequent war in Gaza, coming after a tumultuous period involving conflicts with regional actors and major security operations. Mr. Netanyahu has spent a total of 19 years in office since first taking power in 1996, and the outcome of this closely watched election leaves the political future of the veteran leader uncertain as parties prepare for potential coalition talks.