Israel votes for new Knesset as Netanyahu faces Eisenkot, no majority in sight
About 7.3 million people are eligible in the first election since Oct. 7, 2023. Final polls show neither bloc reaching 61 seats.
Photo: Clema12 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
Israelis are voting on Tuesday to elect the 26th Knesset. According to the Central Elections Committee, about 7.3 million people are eligible, including roughly 1.2 million Palestinian citizens of Israel. Most polling stations are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time (2000 GMT), and broadcasters will publish exit polls as soon as voting ends. Official results are due by Nov. 4.
It is the first election since the Hamas attack of Oct. 7, 2023. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, 77, is up against former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, 66, and his Yashar party. Final polls by the three main broadcasters gave Yashar 22 to 23 seats and Likud 19 to 21. Netanyahu's bloc stood at about 50 seats and the opposition at 52 to 56, with 61 of 120 seats needed for a majority.
Arab-majority parties could win 14 to 16 seats combined, but both blocs have so far ruled out working with them. If no majority emerges, Netanyahu could stay on as caretaker and the country could head for another election. Once results are in, President Isaac Herzog will consult the parties and assign the task of forming a government. About 20,000 police officers are securing the vote.