Netanyahu bloc leads in Israeli count

Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot have each asserted the right to lead Israel following Tuesday’s election, despite early counts indicating a stalemate. The two leaders have not declared victory, instead framing the partial results to suit their respective coalitions. Netanyahu’s camp projects a lead, while Eisenkot argues the vote signals a rejection of the incumbent prime minister.

With roughly 48.4 percent of ballots counted, Israeli media report that Netanyahu’s bloc is on track for 55 seats. Eisenkot’s bloc is projected to secure 50 seats, with the remaining 15 allocated to Arab parties. These figures are expected to fluctuate as the Central Elections Committee completes the tally on Wednesday. Definitive results may not arrive until Thursday.

Neither projected outcome provides the 61 seats required for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. This represents a potential decline for Netanyahu, whose nationalist-religious coalition previously held 68 seats. However, a deadlock could benefit the 77-year-old leader by allowing him to remain as caretaker prime minister. He would retain power during potentially lengthy coalition negotiations or until a new election is called.

Forming a workable government remains difficult for both contenders. Netanyahu’s bloc has excluded Arab parties, which campaigned to unseat him and his far-right allies. Eisenkot, who leads the Yashar party and served as former military chief, has similarly ruled out including Arab parties in a governing coalition. The far-right religious parties led by Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich are projected to capture a combined 13 seats within Netanyahu’s bloc.

Addressing supporters at Likud headquarters in Jerusalem after 3 a.m. local time, Netanyahu called for a strong, right-wing national government. He highlighted military successes and proposed renewed cooperation with U.S. President Donald Trump. Netanyahu stated that Israel faces a singular historical opportunity to remove the existential threat of Iran once and for all.

Trump, who endorsed Netanyahu, described the race as pretty close from a campaign trip in Texas. He suggested his endorsement helped the incumbent and noted that Netanyahu might be winning or tying. Trump characterized a tie as a sort of win in that case because it is a big chess man match. Eisenkot countered that the public voted against Netanyahu remaining in office. He urged the prime minister to retire and told the security establishment to stand firm against political interests.

Turnout reached 77.7 percent, the highest in more than two decades. This figure is about seven percentage points above the 2022 election. Israel’s fragmented party system often grants smaller parties kingmaker roles, a dynamic that has extended past coalition talks into months. If neither side forms a government, another election may be necessary, an outcome Eisenkot opposed given the high participation.

Eisenkot, 66, lost a son and two nephews in the Gaza war and entered politics only four years ago. He served in Netanyahu’s war cabinet after the October 7, 2023, attack before quitting eight months later. He opposes Palestinian statehood and insists Hamas’ military wing must be destroyed. Voters weighed the trauma of that day, when Hamas killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, against the subsequent wars with Lebanon and Iran. Gaza health authorities report more than 74,000 Palestinians have died in the conflict.