Exit Polls Show Gadi Eisenkot Bloc Leads Netanyahu Bloc, No Majority as Israel Awaits Talks

Exit polls, no majority

Exit polls released by Israel's public broadcaster Kan showed a bloc led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot winning 53 seats in Israel's 120-member parliament, ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing bloc with 50 seats. The exit polls said neither bloc secured the 61 seats needed to form an outright majority government, leaving Israel awaiting coalition talks after votes were still being counted. Votes were still being counted on Wednesday morning, after exit polls suggested a tight race between the two coalition blocs led by Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot.

The Israel Central Elections Committee said final results were not expected until Thursday, and partial results suggested both coalitions would fail to secure a majority of 61 seats. Netanyahu would remain caretaker prime minister while negotiations can last for several weeks.

Reporting for this section@globaltimesnewsABC

Competing claims, Arab leverage

Benjamin Netanyahu told supporters that "Two things have become clear. The first is unequivocal: the Likud is the largest party in Israel," and he said a right-wing, national, strong government must be formed.

Gadi Eisenkot told supporters at his party election headquarters that "We made history," and he said the public decided in favor of change and against the continuation of Netanyahu's tenure.

Mansour Abbas said, "With the numbers we have now, there is no government," as exit polling suggested Arab-led parties could hold a record combined 19 seats in the 120-member Knesset.

Alon Pinkas said, "There’s a price to pay," because "the “Arabs can’t be kept outside" and only being considered and co-opted when you need their votes."

Netanyahu and his far-right coalition warned of surging voter turnout among Palestinian citizens of Israel, a tactic Arab politicians denounced as racist and inflammatory.

Reporting for this sectionABCAl Jazeera

What comes next

Israeli President Isaac Herzog will consult with party leaders and offer the chance to form a government to the leader he believes has the best chance of forming a government, usually the leader of the largest party. If official results establish no clear winner, Netanyahu will remain caretaker prime minister while negotiations go on, and party leaders would hope to form a coalition capable of governing. The Knesset has passed more than 100 laws discriminating against Palestinian citizens of Israel, and those voters also face discrimination in receiving state funds.

The election was described as an "existential moment for Palestinian-Israelis" and Nour Odeh called the record turnout among what has emerged as a key voting bloc a moment that drew even voters who would usually boycott elections. Palestinian citizens of Israel make up about 21 percent of the country's population of 10 million, and they have traditionally voted at lower rates than Jewish Israelis.

Reporting for this sectionABCAl Jazeera