TEL AVIV — Exit polls following Israel's closely watched general election show no decisive winner, leaving both incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition challenger Gadi Eisenkot short of a parliamentary majority.
Tight Race and Turnout
Data from the Central Elections Committee indicated strong voter participation, with turnout reaching 74.3 percent shortly before polls closed, marking an increase from the 70.63 percent recorded in the 2022 election. Earlier in the day, the Central Elections Committee dismissed a petition by Netanyahu's Likud Party to extend voting hours.
Context and Next Steps
The election marks the first nationwide vote since the outbreak of war in Gaza following the October 7, 2023, attacks, serving as a significant test of public sentiment regarding Netanyahu's leadership and the subsequent conflicts.
Preliminary results are anticipated later in the week, with a final tally expected by Friday. The Central Elections Committee has scheduled the official and definitive election results for publication on November 4.
