Israeli exit polls suggest no clear winner in pivotal general election
Exit polls suggest there is no clear winner of Israel's pivotal general election, with neither veteran Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor former military chief Gadi Eisenkot on track to secure a majority.
TL;DR
- Exit polls show neither Benjamin Netanyahu nor Gadi Eisenkot securing a majority in Israel's general election.
- The election outcome may depend on the performance of Arab parties, projected to win a record number of seats.
- Voter turnout was the highest in decades, reaching 77.7% by poll closure.
- Official results will be published overnight, with absentee ballots counted later.
- Forming a governing coalition could take weeks, and failure could lead to another election.
- Netanyahu's Likud party declared a 'great majority' on the right, while opposition leaders claimed a 'crushing defeat' for Netanyahu's bloc.
- Key campaign issues included accountability for the October 7th attacks, regional wars, military service burden, judicial reforms, and Israel's international standing.
- The election is seen as consequential, potentially deciding the country's leadership and its future national and religious trajectory.