Israel Knesset vote leaves Netanyahu, Eisenkot in deadlock

Israeli voters went to the polls Tuesday, and the race for the Knesset is effectively tied. With a majority of votes counted, election officials report a stalemate between incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot. Neither candidate has secured the 61 seats required to form a governing coalition in the 120-seat legislature.

Eisenkot currently appears to have the support of a majority of lawmakers, a position bolstered by a historically strong showing for Arab-led parties. These parties have signaled they want Eisenkot to lead the next government. However, most members of Eisenkot’s camp remain hesitant to build a coalition with Arab partners. That reluctance stems from deep mistrust and public demonization of Arab political leaders following the October 7 attacks. As a result, neither side has a clear path to a majority.

The mood in Israel has shifted rapidly since voting closed. Exit polls released early Wednesday showed Eisenkot with an advantage, prompting celebrations at his campaign headquarters in Tel Aviv. Mayan Eshel, an Eisenkot supporter, told NPR she felt filled with optimism. She expressed hope that Israelis would wake up to a new day of democracy and striving for peace.

Many Israelis slept expecting a clear change from the war and far-right leadership of recent years. Overnight, the numbers flipped. Netanyahu pulled ahead, leaving the country waking up to a race too close to call. Both candidates addressed their bases in the early morning hours. Eisenkot delivered a speech that sounded like a victory address, which NPR correspondent Daniel Estrin described as premature. Eisenkot issued a direct warning to the prime minister. He said, “Netanyahu, don’t you dare use the security of Israel for your political needs.” Eisenkot’s comment targets Netanyahu’s campaign promise to strike Iran during the transition period.

Netanyahu also spoke to his supporters. He stated that he would attempt to form the next government. “We need to create a right-wing, strong government. That’s what has to be done,” Netanyahu said.

Election officials expect to complete the vote count by Thursday afternoon. The candidate who finishes on top will receive the first opportunity to assemble a cabinet. That candidate has six weeks to secure a majority. The coming weeks will likely see intense negotiation as both Eisenkot and Netanyahu work to attract defectors from the opposing camp. The outcome remains uncertain until the final tally is released.

The deadlock has created a period of confusion and uncertainty for the public. The final seat count will determine which leader begins the coalition-building process. Both camps are now focused on winning over undecided members of the Knesset.