Netanyahu and Eisenkot claim competing paths to lead Israel after inconclusive vote

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and rival Gadi Eisenkot each asserted the right to form Israel's next government after Tuesday's election, while early results showed no clear winner. The Central Elections Committee expects definitive results by Thursday, after counting the remaining ballots.

At roughly 48.4% of votes tallied, projections gave Netanyahu's bloc about 55 seats and Eisenkot's bloc about 50 seats, with Arab parties expected to win around 15 seats. All parties remain short of the 61 seats required for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset, leaving coalition talks open-ended.

Netanyahu, speaking to Likud supporters at the party headquarters in Jerusalem, called for “a strong, right-wing national government” and highlighted recent military actions. He also mentioned the possibility of renewed cooperation with President Donald Trump on Iran.

"Israel faces a singular historical opportunity, together with our partner President Trump, to remove the existential threat of Iran once and for all," Netanyahu said.

Trump, who endorsed Netanyahu, responded to questions about the election from Texas, saying the endorsement had helped Netanyahu and describing the outcome as “very well.”

"You know, it's pretty close, which was very well. Because I think when the endorsement went out, it helped him a lot, but I actually heard he did pretty well. It might be winning or tie. The tie is sort of considered a win in that case because it's a big chess match," Trump said.

Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party and former military chief, argued that voters had rejected Netanyahu and urged the prime minister to step aside, warning against politicising Israel's security apparatus.

"Netanyahu is a caretaker prime minister, without a mandate or the people's trust," Eisenkot said, calling on the security establishment to “stand firm” against political interference.

Voter turnout reached 77.7%, the highest in more than two decades, according to the Central Elections Committee. The fragmented party system means smaller parties could become decisive in coalition negotiations, and if neither bloc can secure a majority, a new election may be required, a prospect Eisenkot opposed.

The Israeli shekel weakened modestly following the indecisive result. Both leaders face challenges: Netanyahu's bloc, which previously held 68 seats, fell short of a governing majority, while Eisenkot, who entered politics four years ago and briefly served in Netanyahu's war cabinet, positions himself as a centrist alternative with strong security credentials.

Arab parties, represented by the Joint List, celebrated the high turnout, with candidate Faten Gattas stating the alliance would continue to resist occupation and racism. The election took place against the backdrop of the October 7 Hamas attack and subsequent conflicts, which have shaped the security and political discourse in Israel.