Israel election — live: Exit polls suggest deadlock despite Netanyahu gaining most seats
Follow updates below
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Exit polls indicate there is no clear winner in the Israeli election, signalling continued political deadlock.
The polls on Israel‘s three main TV stations showed current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his religious and nationalist allies, as well as diverse array of opponents, both falling short of a parliamentary majority.
That could set the stage for weeks of paralysis and even an unprecedented fifth consecutive election.
Tuesday marked Israel’s fourth election in two years, after two deadlocked elections and the breakdown of a national unity government formed in May 2020.
‘I will only do what is good for Israel’ says potential kingmaker Bennett
Naftali Bennett, a former Netanyahu aide who has long sought to replace him as prime minister, was being inscrutable after the exit poll result.
“I will do only what is good for the state of Israel,” Bennett was quoted as saying by a spokesman.
The high-tech millionaire has indicated he will not serve under the centre-left group’s most likely leader, 57-year-old Yair Lapid, head of the Yesh Atid party.
After the exit polls were broadcast, Bennett said he received a telephone call from Netanyahu but that nothing was decided.
Exit poll results
According to the polls released by Israel’s Channel 11, 12 and 13 Likud swept between 31 - 33 of the 120 seat Knesset which is nearly double the number of his main contender the centrist Yesh Atid party, which came in second.
Although that places Israel’s longest-serving prime minister in a strong position to be tasked with forming the next government, overall his bloc has not secured enough to easily form a ruling majority.
Bel Trew reports:
Exit polls point to Israel election deadlock as Netanyahu falls short
A further stalemate could set the stage for weeks of paralysis
Bennett will ‘do only what is good for Israel'
Naftali Bennett of the ultranationalist Yamina party, who has emerged as a potential kingmaker in the exit polls, has said he will “do only what is good for Israel”.
Reuters
BREAKING: Israel election exit polls suggest deadlock despite Netanyahu gaining most seats
Exit polls point to Israel election deadlock as Netanyahu falls short
Further deadlock could set the stage for weeks of paralysis
What could happen now?
The exit polls on Israel‘s three main TV stations have shown Benjamin Netanyahu and his religious and nationalist allies, as well as diverse array of opponents, both falling short of a parliamentary majority.
That could set the stage for weeks of paralysis and even an unprecedented fifth consecutive election.
If the final results are in line with the exit polls, both sides will have to court Naftali Bennett, a former Mr Netanyahu ally with strained relations with the prime minister, to form a majority in the 120-seat Knesset, or parliament.
Mr Bennett shares Mr Netanyahu’s hard-line nationalist ideology but has signalled he would be open to cooperating with his rivals if given the chance to be prime minister.
Associated Press
Exit polls
Bel Trew on exit polls, which have just come through:
Exit polls from the Israel’s unprecedented fourth election show Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party sweeping the most seats compared to other parties but not securing enough to form a ruling coalition and a decisive victory.
Natalie Lisbona reports:
Panic is growing among Israeli politicians after official statistics show voter turnout is continuing to drop.
At 6pm Israel time, nearly 5 per cent fewer Israelis went to the polls compared to the previous election according to the elections commission. 51.5 per cent voting today versus 56.3 last time.
It’s far from clear which parties will benefit – and which will be harmed – from the dip in voter turnout given no other details were released. But if history is any guide, the right-wing parties have had a harder time getting their supporters to the polls than the left-wing camp.
That may bode ill for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who’s looking to eek out a victory with a narrow right-wing majority.
But lower voter turnout is also an alarm for smaller parties teetering on the minimum threshold to enter parliament. In this election, that would put more left-wing parties in danger, what might help Netanyahu.
Party leaders from the right, center and left calling on voters to go to the polls in what Israelis dub a “gevalt” campaign, a Yiddish word that means dire urgency.
Bel Trew and Natalie Lisbona report:
A rocket shot from Gaza has landed near the southern city of Beersheba hitting just after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was campaigning there.No injuries or damage has been reported from the attack as the rocket fell in an open field.
Israel’s Channel 12 reports that the PM was already in his car out of the city as the rocket landed.
In 2019 during a previous set of elections Netanyahu was rushed off stage and into a shelter in Ashkelon during an election campaign rally after a rocket was intercepted by the Iron Dome Missile air defence system.
Israel election report
Israelis are voting in an unprecedented fourth election in two years that many see as a referendum on divisive longterm leader Benjamin Netanyahu, who called the vote a “festival of democracy” despite fears the results would once again be inconclusive prolonging the country’s political deadlock.
Bel Trew and Natalie Lisbona report:
Israel votes again in fourth general election in two years
Voters express frustration at fourth national election in just two years after polling stations open across country
Netanyahu urges people in Jerusalem to vote
Benjamin Netanyahu has urged people in Jerusalem to go out and vote, saying turnout is too low:
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies