Netanyahu’s power hangs in balance as record turnout raises question of whether he’ll be ousted again, twice before he returned

A high-turnout election

Election officials reported record turnout as Netanyahu’s coalition faced an opposition bloc led by Eisenkot. A winner might not be immediately clear, and people already waiting in line when polls closed were still allowed to vote.

Turnout among Arab citizens appeared especially high. By late afternoon, some Arab-majority towns had already exceeded their turnout totals from the previous election in 2022. Arab citizens make up about a fifth of Israel’s population.

A vote shaped by war

Both camps described the election as a decisive moment. Netanyahu’s coalition promised a more religious Israel and tighter control over the West Bank and Gaza, while opponents said the vote was a chance to defend democracy and avert international isolation and sanctions.

Opposition targets Netanyahu

Eisenkot and other opposition leaders called for accountability over what they described as Netanyahu’s failure to prevent the Oct. 7 attacks. They also pledged to improve Israel’s standing abroad and curb extremist Israeli violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

Netanyahu, 77, has shaped Israeli politics for decades. In the campaign’s final days, he repeatedly warned that Israel could face annihilation without him as its leader.

Results may take time

Israeli broadcasters were expected to publish exit polls at 10 p.m. local time, when voting ended except for those still in line. The polls can suggest how parties are faring, but they do not reliably predict exact results, especially in a close contest.

Definitive results were expected to take hours, and forming a new government could take weeks. The account also notes that exit polls have a spotty record of accuracy, so early projections should be treated cautiously.