Andrea Innocenti Israel's national elections saw an unprecedented turnout, with 77,7% of eligible voters— 5.695.682 people—casting their votes. This is the highest turnout recorded since 1999, exceeding the 70,6% turnout for the previous round. The historic result has been accompanied by intense debate over possible governing structures, as no political party has yet secured the majority needed to lead the Knesset.
At 10:03 a.m. , with 72,4% of the ballots counted, the Central Election Commission released the first partial results. The bloc supported by Benjamin Netanyahu won 54 seats , while the opposition led by Gadi Eisenkot obtained 48 seats . The Arab parties, united in the Joint List and Ra'am, rose to 18 seats , thanks to two additional gains for Ra'am.
Seat Distribution: Key Numbers from the First Round
The results so far paint a picture of apparent parity between the two main blocs. The pro-Netanyahu bloc barely surpasses the threshold of seats needed to open coalition negotiations, but remains below the 61 seats required for an absolute majority.
On the other hand, Eisenkot's alliance built a 48-seat coalition , needing further alliances to reach the governing threshold.
Exit polls and majority prospects
Telephone polls published by major broadcasters confirm the difficulty of forming a stable government. N12's analysis gives 52 seats to Eisenkot's opposition and 50 seats to Netanyahu's bloc. Channel 13, however, reports 53 seats for Eisenkot, 50 for Netanyahu, and 17 for the Arab parties. Other polls (Kan, Channel 12, Channel 15) place the Likud among the leaders with 24-27 seats , followed by Eisenkot's movement with 20-23 seats , and the B'Yachad group of Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid with 12-15 seats . In all cases, the need for additional partners is evident.
Historic Turnout and Vote Abroad
The exceptional turnout has generated a particularly complex number of votes to count. Approximately 650.000 ballots came from diplomats abroad, sailors, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers, and hospital patients, factors that could delay the final counting. The Election Commission has warned that the final results may not be announced until Wednesday evening, given the presence of votes enclosed in double-sealed envelopes.
Reactions of the protagonists and the path towards the coalition
President Isaac Herzog will have to sign the election results, opening a 90-day window within which the parties must negotiate a coalition. Gadi Eisenkot has declared his intention to replace Netanyahu's government, emphasizing the need for mandatory military service for all. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar responded on social media, stating that Likud remains the largest party, but acknowledged a "heavy defeat."
Yair Lapid, head of Yesh Atid and co-leader of B'Yachad, described the outcome of Netanyahu's bloc as a "total collapse," highlighting the possibility of forming a government of change. On the other hand, Otzma Yehudit leader Itamar Ben-Gvir rejected the idea of a national unity government, calling it "paralysis." Mansour Abbas, head of the Ra'am Arab List, reported receiving contacts from both the pro-Netanyahu and opposition blocs, suggesting a possible opening to cross-party dialogue.