Israel Election Update: Netanyahu Bloc Slightly Ahead, Short of Majority
As votes are being counted in Israel's general election, exit polls suggest that Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc is narrowly leading the opposition, but still short of a majority. The polls indicate that Gadi Eisenkot's "change bloc" is neck and neck with Netanyahu's camp, with the latter's Likud party poised to be the largest single party in the Israeli parliament.
The election outcome is too close to call, with the possibility of weeks or months of protracted negotiations between the parties ahead. Official results have started being released, but counting could take days, with absentee ballots still to be counted. The Central Elections Committee has warned that vote counting may continue into Friday.
The "change bloc," led by Eisenkot and the newly formed Yashar party, aims to oust Netanyahu from power. However, the Israeli prime minister's Likud party is expected to be the largest single party in the Knesset, Israel's parliament. The outcome of the election will determine the country's next government, with the party leader who forms a governing coalition likely to become the prime minister.
