Israel election too close to call as Netanyahu and Eisenkot bloc fail to win clear majority

Israel's general election has thrown the country's politics into turmoil. The ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a serious challenge, with the opposition bloc of former army chief Gadi Eisenkot running him close.

Early results show no bloc winning a clear majority, so it is not yet settled who will form the government. Netanyahu has announced that he will not take the support of an Arab party. He has also said he was cheated in the election, claiming that the vote was not transparent. Political analysts around the world are watching where Israel's struggle for power goes from here and what effect it will have on global politics.

Israel voted on paper ballots on October 27. It is the country's first general election since the Hamas attack in 2023. In the campaign, the opposition targeted Netanyahu over security policy, the war and the government's decisions.

Eisenkot drew voters with an appeal for change. Early indications were that the opposition alliance held a slim lead. After counting began, however, the picture changed and Netanyahu's coalition took the lead. The margin is not large, and the narrow gap between the two blocs has made it a close contest.

Israel's parliament, the Knesset, has 120 seats, and a majority of at least 61 is needed to form a government. In the early count, Netanyahu's coalition appeared to be getting 56 seats and Eisenkot's opposition alliance 48. Arab parties are estimated to win 16 seats, so they could play a key role in government formation. The arithmetic of power will depend on which party supports whom.

With no bloc holding a clear majority, negotiations between parties and coalition manoeuvring are now likely to begin. President Isaac Herzog will have the responsibility of giving the right leader the chance to form a government. Netanyahu has meanwhile signalled his intention to form a strong right-wing government, while the opposition has maintained its claim to form the government. The coming days will therefore be crucial for Israeli politics. The country's next leadership will become clear after the final results and coalition talks.