Israel election leaves Netanyahu and Eisenkot short of majority
Briefing by News4U · First published
With 90% of votes counted, Netanyahu’s bloc leads 53-48 but neither side can form a government without further coalition talks.
Israel’s election produced no clear winner: with nearly 90% of votes counted, Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud-led bloc holds 53 seats and Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar-led bloc holds 48 seats, both short of the 61-seat majority needed to form a government. [1] [2]
Turnout reached the highest level in decades, and Arab-Israeli voters participated in large numbers. Coalition negotiations are expected to last weeks. [2]
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk urged the next government to “change course massively” and respect international law, citing recent operations in Hebron. [2]
Sources
- How Israel’s Election Could End
NY Times · · Summary only
- Israel election: Netanyahu-led bloc holds lead with nearly 90% of votes counted
DW English · · Excerpt