Israeli exit polls show deadlock, setback for Netanyahu
JERUSALEM: Israel’s wartime election appeared deadlocked on Tuesday, exit polls showed, a potential setback for veteran Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if the projections hold. Neither side had a clear path to power, but rival Gadi Eisenkot’s larger bloc could give him the first chance to form a government.
On Tuesday, Israel's wartime election appeared to be deadlocked, with exit polls showing no clear path to power for either side. Rival Gadi Eisenkot's bloc, led by Yair Golan, appeared to have a two-seat edge over Netanyahu's Likud-led camp at 52-50, potentially giving Eisenkot the first chance to form a government. However, Eisenkot has ruled out forming a government with unaligned Arab parties, complicating his path to a majority.
Turnout was 77.7 per cent, the highest in over two decades, marking a significant increase from the previous election in 2022. The election came amid the ongoing wars in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks. Opposition leader Yair Lapid stated that Netanyahu's bloc had suffered a "crushing defeat," while Eisenkot, a hawkish former military chief, emphasized his security credentials and centrist stance on domestic issues.
The election was the first since the Hamas-led attacks and subsequent wars, and it marked a historic night for turnout among Palestinian citizens of Israel.
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- Israeli exit polls show deadlock, setback for Netanyahu koreatimes.co.kr
