Overview
- Tuesday's nationwide vote saw an unusually high turnout of about 74.3 percent by 20:00, the highest at that hour in decades and a central factor in the tight result.
- Early exit polls and initial counts showed a razor‑thin contest with some channels giving the opposition led by Gadi Eisenkot a small lead and others reporting a tie or a narrow Netanyahu advantage, but no bloc reached the 61 seats needed to govern alone.
- Projections put the two Arab party lists at roughly 17–18 seats combined, elevating them to kingmaker status because either side will likely need their backing to form a coalition.
- Police arrested three people linked to Ra'am on suspicion of attempted vote buying and Netanyahu accused opponents of trying to 'steal' the vote, while the Central Elections Committee reported no evidence of systematic fraud and said isolated complaints were under investigation.
- President Isaac Herzog is expected to begin consultations and designate a candidate to try to form a government, a process that could take weeks and may end in a negotiated coalition, a minority government with outside support, a unity pact, or new elections.