Netanyahu leads Israel election as opposition blocs hold more total seats

Benjamin Netanyahu led his main rival, Gadi Eisenkot, in the official tally of Israel's parliamentary election as a majority of votes were counted on Wednesday morning. Despite the lead, no single candidate held a decisive advantage, leaving the outcome of the contest uncertain as officials completed the final counts.

The opposition groups, which included two Arab-led factions, secured more total votes than Netanyahu's right-wing bloc. This result indicated that a large portion of the electorate voted against the current government. Both leaders addressed supporters overnight on Tuesday and claimed early success. Eisenkot, a center-right former military chief of staff, told his base, "We made history! The public has voted for change." Netanyahu told his supporters, "The right-wing bloc has a clear, decisive majority among the Zionist public."

Forming a government requires a coalition of 61 lawmakers in the 120-seat Knesset. The final outcome will depend on negotiations between competing alliances. Arab voters, who make up roughly 20 percent of the population, hold significant influence. The United Arab List and the Joint List could act as kingmakers, although both Netanyahu and Eisenkot have previously resisted partnering with them.

Voter turnout on Tuesday reached more than 77 percent, the highest level in over 20 years. Tens of thousands of expatriates returned to Israel to cast ballots in the first election since the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas. More than 1,200 people were killed in that attack, and 251 were taken hostage. The subsequent war in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of more than 74,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.

Netanyahu, who has served as prime minister for nearly two decades across multiple terms, faces divided public opinion. His supporters point to military operations in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran as evidence of restored security. Opponents question his leadership in the aftermath of the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust. A July 2025 poll found that 67 percent of Israelis were not very troubled by the suffering in Gaza.

Election officials expect to finish counting all ballots, including those from soldiers, by Thursday afternoon. The leading candidate will have six weeks to form a governing coalition. If neither side secures a majority, Netanyahu will remain as caretaker prime minister, and Israel will hold a repeat election next year.

Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats party within Eisenkot's bloc, called for a coalition with Arab parties. "We have no future here if we don't stop being afraid. And if we don't stop with the racism," he said. Eisenkot has pledged not to join a government led by Netanyahu, while his coalition partners range from the moderate right to the liberal left.