Netanyahu and Eisenkot face six-week race to build coalitions after Israeli vote ends in deadlock

Israelis cast their ballots in the first national election since the October 7 attacks, but the results are too close to determine a winner. The Knesset has 120 seats, and neither Benjamin Netanyahu nor Gadi Eisenkot has secured the 61 seats needed to form a government. With a majority of votes counted, the race remains in a deadlock.

Eisenkot, the center-right opposition leader, currently appears to have the support of the majority of lawmakers. This advantage stems from a historically strong performance by Arab-led parties, which have indicated they want Eisenkot to serve as prime minister. However, much of Eisenkot's camp has resisted forming a coalition with Arab parties due to deep mistrust following the October 7 attacks. This reluctance leaves both candidates without a clear path to a majority.

Confusion marked the hours after voting closed. Early exit polls showed Eisenkot with an advantage, sparking celebrations at his campaign headquarters in Tel Aviv. Supporters, including Mayan Eshel, expressed optimism about a new democratic era and a push for peace. Eshel told NPR that she hoped Israelis would wake up to a new day of striving for peace. Many voters had anticipated a decisive change after years of war and far-right leadership.

That expectation was upended overnight. As counting progressed, Netanyahu pulled ahead, leaving the race effectively tied this morning. Both candidates addressed their supporters in the early hours. Eisenkot delivered a speech that functioned as a premature victory announcement. He issued a direct warning to Netanyahu, stating that the incumbent should not use Israel's security for political needs. Eisenkot specifically cautioned against striking Iran during this precarious transition, a move Netanyahu had promised during his campaign.

Netanyahu addressed his own base and said he would attempt to form the next government. He emphasized the need to create a strong, right-wing government, describing it as the necessary course of action. The two leaders are now entering a competitive phase where they will seek to assemble a coalition from the fragmented parliamentary landscape.

Election officials expect to complete the vote count by tomorrow afternoon. Once the final results are in, the candidate who comes out on top will receive the first opportunity to form a governing coalition. That leader will have six weeks to build a majority. If the first candidate fails, the other gets a chance to try. This period will likely be filled with intense negotiations, as both Netanyahu and Eisenkot work to attract defectors from the opposing camp to reach the 61-seat threshold.

The outcome hinges on whether Eisenkot can overcome the resistance within his camp to partner with Arab parties, or whether Netanyahu can consolidate enough right-wing support to form a stable government. The Knesset will remain in a state of transition until one of the two leaders secures the necessary backing to take office.