Israel election: what we know so far

Revised exit polls suggest a tie between Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling coalition and Gadi Eisenkot’s opposition bloc, plus marked gains by Palestinian parties

Israel election: what we know so far

TL;DR

  • Exit polls show a tie between Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling coalition and Gadi Eisenkot's opposition bloc, both with 51 seats.
  • Neither bloc has reached the 61 seats required to form a majority government.
  • Palestinian parties are projected to win up to 18 seats, a significant increase.
  • If a majority is not formed, coalition talks could be lengthy, possibly involving negotiations with Palestinian parties.
  • Benjamin Netanyahu stated the need for a strong, right-wing government and opposed relying on Palestinian parties.
  • Gadi Eisenkot claimed the public voted against Netanyahu and warned against using security for political ends.