Polls predict Netanyahu's party to win most seats in Israel election
The latest polls published on Friday ahead of today's voting suggest the 77-year-old, who has been in power for four years, is almost neck-and-neck with his main rival Gadi Eisenkot.
TL;DR
- Early exit polls suggest Netanyahu's Likud party will be the largest in Israel's parliament.
- Neither Netanyahu's bloc nor his rivals have secured the 61 seats needed for a majority.
- This outcome points to potential coalition negotiations and a prolonged political stalemate.
- Arab-led parties are projected to win a record 18 seats, potentially playing a kingmaker role.
- Voter turnout was high, with 74% of Israelis casting ballots, the highest since 1974.
- The election is viewed as a referendum on Netanyahu's leadership, especially after the October 7 attacks.
- Key issues in the campaign included Netanyahu's role in the security breakdown, ultra-Orthodox military service exemptions, and judicial overhaul.
- Netanyahu urged supporters to vote, calling it an 'emergency,' while his rival Eisenkot focused on security failures.
- Some voters expressed trust in Netanyahu for security and experience, while others desired change and a centrist government.