Deadlock leaves Israel without a clear winner after record vote

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and challenger Gadi Eisenkot each claimed the right to lead Israel on Wednesday, despite early counts showing a stalemate. Neither candidate declared victory. The outcome leaves the country without a clear majority as officials continue to tally ballots.

Israeli media reported that Netanyahu’s bloc is projected to win 55 seats, while Eisenkot’s bloc is projected to win 50. Another 15 seats are allocated to Arab parties. These figures are based on approximately 48.4 percent of votes counted. The Central Elections Committee expects definitive results by Thursday.

Both camps fall short of the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. This projection marks a setback for Netanyahu, whose coalition previously held 68 seats. However, the deadlock may benefit the 77-year-old leader. He remains in office as caretaker prime minister during coalition talks or until a new election is called.

Forming a government remains difficult for both men. Netanyahu’s bloc has ruled out partnering with Arab parties. Eisenkot, who leads the Yashar party, has also largely excluded Arab parties from his potential coalition. The far-right religious parties led by Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich are projected to hold 13 combined seats within Netanyahu’s bloc.

Netanyahu addressed supporters at Likud headquarters in Jerusalem after 3 a.m. local time. He called for a strong, right-wing national government. He highlighted Israel’s military successes and suggested renewed joint action with U.S. President Donald Trump against Iran. Netanyahu stated that Israel faces a historical opportunity to remove the existential threat of Iran once and for all.

Trump, who endorsed Netanyahu, commented on the race after a trip to Texas. He described the race as pretty close and suggested his endorsement helped. Trump said Netanyahu might be winning or tying, noting that a tie is sort of considered a win in that case because it is a big chess match.

Eisenkot argued that voters turned away from the longtime leader. He urged Netanyahu to retire from politics. Eisenkot stated that Netanyahu is a caretaker prime minister without a mandate or the people’s trust. He called on the security establishment to stand firm against putting political interests ahead of national security.

Turnout reached 77.7 percent, the highest in more than two decades. This figure is about seven percentage points higher than in 2022. Israel’s fragmented political system often leads to lengthy coalition talks. If neither side can form a government, another election may be required, an outcome Eisenkot opposed given the high participation.

Eisenkot, 66, lost a son and two nephews in the Gaza war. He entered politics four years ago and joined Netanyahu’s war cabinet after the 2023 attack before quitting eight months later. He presents himself as a centrist on domestic issues but maintains a hawkish security stance. He opposes Palestinian statehood and argues Hamas must be destroyed or dismantled.

Voters weighed the trauma of the Hamas attack that killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, according to Israeli government tallies. They also considered the subsequent wars with Hezbollah and Iran. Netanyahu has faced criticism for the security failure but argues he made Israel safer by killing top leaders of Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran.