77.7% turnout in Israeli election leaves no clear winner

Voter turnout was 77.7% in Israel's election, the highest in more than two decades. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and rival Gadi Eisenkot both claimed leadership after the election, but early counting showed no clear winner. Israel's Central Elections Committee is still tallying votes, and results are likely to take until Thursday to be known. With 48.4% of votes counted, Netanyahu's bloc was projected to win 55 seats, while Eisenkot's bloc was projected to win 50 seats, and 15 seats were expected to go to Arab parties. Neither Netanyahu nor Eisenkot claimed victory, as both sides are short of the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset.

Netanyahu's bloc ruled out forming a government with Arab parties, which themselves campaigned on a platform of bringing down the prime minister and his far-right allies. Eisenkot, the leader of the Yashar party and a former military chief, has all but ruled out forming a government with Arab parties, complicating his path to power. Far-right religious parties led by Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich were projected to take a combined 13 seats within Netanyahu's bloc, with no major gains for either of them.

Netanyahu called for the formation of 'a strong, right-wing national government.' He also highlighted Israel's military successes and raised the prospect of renewed joint action with U.S. President Donald Trump against Iran. Trump, who endorsed Netanyahu, was asked early on Wednesday about the election after a campaign trip to Texas, and said he did very well.

Supporters of Gadi Eisenkot react after the release of the first exit poll results in Israel's general election in Tel Aviv on Tuesday. (Ariel Schalit/The Associated Press) Voter turnout was 77.7% in Israel's election, the highest in more than two decades. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and rival Gadi Eisenkot both claimed leadership after the election, but early counting showed no clear winner. Israel's Central Elections Committee is still tallying votes, and results are likely to take until Thursday to be known. With 48.4% of votes counted, Netanyahu's bloc was projected to win 55 seats, while Eisenkot's bloc was projected to win 50 seats, and 15 seats were expected to go to Arab parties. Neither Netanyahu nor Eisenkot claimed victory, as both sides are short of the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset.

Netanyahu's bloc ruled out forming a government with Arab parties, which themselves campaigned on a platform of bringing down the prime minister and his far-right allies. Eisenkot, the leader of the Yashar party and a former military chief, has all but ruled out forming a government with Arab parties, complicating his path to power. Far-right religious parties led by Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich were projected to take a combined 13 seats within Netanyahu's bloc, with no major gains for either of them.

Netanyahu called for the formation of 'a strong, right-wing national government.' He also highlighted Israel's military successes and raised the prospect of renewed joint action with U.S. President Donald Trump against Iran. Trump, who endorsed Netanyahu, was asked early on Wednesday about the election after a campaign trip to Texas, and said he did very well.