Israel faces weeks of political wrangling after deadlocked election
Summary
With 85 percent of votes counted, Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc leads Gadi Eisenkot’s opposition bloc, but neither is on track to win the 61 seats needed for a majority. Israel faces talks over forming a government, and President Isaac Herzog will consult the parties next week; if no bloc can secure a majority, another election could take place as early as April.Key Facts
- Netanyahu’s bloc is projected to win 53 seats, while Eisenkot’s bloc is projected to win 48.
- Arab parties are on track to win 19 seats, a record, but their support for an Eisenkot-led government is described as highly unlikely.
- About 500,000 votes remain to be counted, including ballots from soldiers, diplomats and prisoners.
- The remaining votes could shift seat totals but are not expected to change the overall balance between the blocs.
- President Isaac Herzog plans to consult the parties next week before asking Netanyahu or Eisenkot to form a government.
- Netanyahu has called for a strong right-wing government, while opposition leaders publicly pledged not to join his bloc.
- The opposition is expected to take key positions in the Knesset after the new parliament is sworn in next week.
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