The Latest: As votes are counted, no clear winner emerges in Israel's election
Early counts and exit polls point to coalition negotiations, with neither major bloc near the 61 seats required to govern.
TL;DR
- Israel's October 27 election produced no clear governing majority in exit polls and early counting reported on October 28.
- Neither Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc nor the opposition grouping led by Gadi Eisenkot was projected to reach the 61 seats needed in the 120-seat Knesset.
- The count was incomplete, leaving coalition negotiations, the role of Arab-led parties and the eventual governing arrangement unresolved.
Israelis voted in a national election on October 27, and ballots were still being counted the next morning. The Associated Press reported that exit polls showed no clear winner and that neither major bloc had secured a parliamentary majority. [1] [2]
The Knesset has 120 seats, so a government needs at least 61. Exit polls placed both Netanyahu's bloc and the opposition grouping led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot below that threshold; projections could change as official results were counted. [1] [2]
The Guardian's live coverage likewise described the blocs as short of a majority and said coalition talks could take weeks. Arab-led parties appeared to have gained seats, but their participation in a coalition remained politically contested. [1] [2]
The outcome therefore does not yet determine who will lead the next government or what coalition can be assembled. Israel's president is expected to consult party leaders after the official results, and the coalition-building process may determine whether another election is needed. [1] [2]
Why it matters
The vote may change Israel's governing coalition during an active regional conflict, but policy implications cannot be inferred until coalition composition and negotiations become clearer.
Editor's note
Exit polls and partial counts are provisional; no final seat allocation is presented.