Netanyahu and Eisenkot claim victory as Israel vote count drags on

Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot both claimed a mandate from voters on Tuesday night, despite partial results showing neither bloc secured the 61 seats needed to govern Israel’s Knesset. The incumbent prime minister and the former head of the Israel Defense Forces are locked in a tight race, with final tallies not expected until Thursday. As of Wednesday morning, the Israel Central Elections Committee reported that counting was still in progress.

The election saw record engagement, with turnout hitting 77.7% by the time polls closed at 10 p.m. local time on Tuesday. That figure marks the highest participation rate since 1999. Exit polls indicated strong performance for Arab-Israeli parties, a factor that complicates coalition building. Both Netanyahu and Eisenkot have previously ruled out partnering with those parties, creating a mathematical hurdle for either side.

The campaign focused heavily on security concerns, particularly the ongoing conflict with Iran and management of the war in Gaza. Netanyahu, who leads the right-wing Likud party, argued that voters chose a stable, right-wing government. He stated in his post-election address that Likud is unequivocally the largest party in Israel. He warned against forming a government backed by anti-Zionist Arab parties, which he said would endanger the country.

Eisenkot, leading the centrist Yashar party, painted the result as a rejection of the status quo. Speaking at his headquarters, he declared that the public voted against the continuation of Netanyahu’s tenure. Eisenkot called the incumbent a transitional prime minister without trust. He urged Netanyahu not to use Israel’s security situation for political needs, asserting that the coalition of failure had lost public confidence.

If official results confirm no clear winner, President Isaac Herzog will consult with party leaders. He will offer the task of forming a government to the leader he believes has the best chance of success. This is typically the head of the largest party. Netanyahu will remain caretaker prime minister during negotiations, a process that can take several weeks. Failure to build a viable coalition could trigger another election.

The current standoff echoes a period of political deadlock between 2019 and 2022. During that time, Israelis voted five times as parties struggled to form a working majority. The stalemate ended with Netanyahu forming a government holding 64 of the Knesset's 120 seats, a bloc widely viewed as the most right-wing in the country's history.

The Central Elections Committee is responsible for verifying the final numbers. Partial data released so far suggests a fragmented parliament. Arab-Israeli parties may become the decisive factor in determining which bloc can reach the 61-seat threshold. Both major leaders have signaled their intent to proceed with coalition talks, though the specific partners remain undetermined.

The next step lies with the president and the party leaders. Herzog will review the verified seat counts before making his decision. The outcome will determine whether Netanyahu continues as the permanent head of government or if Eisenkot has the opportunity to assemble a new cabinet. The counting process continues as of Wednesday morning, with a final announcement scheduled for Thursday.