Five key takeaways from Israel’s parliamentary elections

What the report says

Al Jazeera reported that Israel’s parliamentary election produced a close contest between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc and an opposition alliance led by former military chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot. Exit polls released after voting on Tuesday projected Netanyahu’s bloc ahead by a narrow margin, with Likud emerging as the largest single party, though no side appeared close to the 61 seats needed for a Knesset majority. Final official results were expected later in the week.

The report said the vote was widely viewed as a test of Netanyahu’s leadership, especially after the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attacks and the war in Gaza. It also took place amid heightened tensions in the occupied West Bank and broader regional strain. Likud supporters celebrated at party headquarters in Jerusalem, while opposition figures used their initial reactions to argue that voters wanted political change.

According to the article, turnout was notably high, reaching 77.7 percent, the strongest participation since 1999. Arab parties were projected to increase their representation, and Arab political leaders accused Netanyahu of trying to inflame anti-Arab sentiment to mobilize his base. The piece noted that Israel’s system requires coalition bargaining after the vote, so the next phase depends on post-election negotiations among party leaders.

Al Jazeera also explained the likely next steps: the president will consult party leaders, then ask the lawmaker judged most likely to form a government to try to assemble a coalition within 42 days. If that fails, the current government would remain in a caretaker role and new elections could be called.