In brief
A newly held Israeli election has left the country without a clear winner. Exit polls show Gadi Eisenkot’s bloc won the most seats but lacks a majority, while Netanyahu’s Likud party remains the largest single party. BBC journalist Hugo Bachega examines the possible coalition ranges and what Netanyahu’s future may look like. The results could reshape Israel’s political landscape and affect regional stability.
At 3:00 a.m. IST, Israeli polling booths ran out of ballots and officials began counting votes. The nation watched as the latest parliamentary election, held on Wednesday, gently revealed a politically fragmented outcome.
Exit‑poll data indicate that Gadi Eisenkot’s coalition – a wide‑ranging centre‑right bloc – has secured the largest bloc of seats, yet it falls short of the 61‑seat majority necessary to form a government on its own. Netanyahu’s Likud party, which has been the main opposition since 2019, remains the strongest single party with about 30 seats in the 120‑member Knesset.
Voters in the secular and religious districts split in a way that made the final tally even more complex. The question now is which veterans and newcomers can negotiate a coalition that converges on two broad political blades: the right‑wing Likud‑led coalition and a left‑wing Knesset segment with more moderate policy positions.
BBC journalist Hugo Bachega explores the many possible coalitions and the broader implications. From Likud–Israel Israel–Free and Social Justice movements to potential support for a pro‑Israel land‑dweller bloc, the road to government formation could take months if the parties cannot find union on policy grounds.
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