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Netanyahu and Eisenkot blocs both fall short of 61-seat majority as Israeli election count continues

By ChordNews · First written (new coverage , updated )

Both blocs claim upper hand in crucial Israeli election | First Thing
Image: theguardian.com
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Summary

Israel's national election on Tuesday ended without a clear winner in partial counts, with neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc nor the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot reaching the 61 seats needed for a majority. With roughly 66 to 70 percent of the vote counted, reports put Netanyahu's bloc at 54 to 56 seats, Eisenkot's bloc at 47 to 48 and Palestinian-led parties at 16 to 19. The election saw record participation by Israeli citizens of Palestinian origin, a minority of about 20 percent of the population. Netanyahu has vowed to form a coalition through Likud, far-right factions and Jewish religious parties, while Eisenkot said people had decided in favour of change and that Netanyahu should have announced his retirement from politics. Police dismissed claims by Netanyahu and Likud that the election was stolen by parties representing Palestinians as absentee ballots continued to be counted, and Eisenkot warned against exploiting foreign-interference allegations to delay the swearing-in of the 26th Knesset. Israel could face weeks of political haggling.

This continues an earlier story: Israel election ends in apparent deadlock as exit polls show no clear winner

Later: Netanyahu, at risk of losing power, steps up attacks on Israel's Arab parties · Far-right Zehut leader Moshe Feiglin calls for Israel to annul election results and hold snap elections · Eisenkot accuses Netanyahu of working to delegitimise Israel's election results

Timeline

  1. Middle East Eye

    Source ↗

    Middle East Eye reported that with over 66 percent of ballot boxes counted, Netanyahu's bloc led with 56 seats, against 48 for Eisenkot's bloc and 16 for Palestinian-led parties, and that Ra'am leader Mansour Abbas accused Netanyahu of lying and inciting against his party.

  2. The Guardian

    Source ↗

    The Guardian's First Thing newsletter reported that with about 70 percent of the vote counted, Netanyahu's bloc had 54 seats, the Eisenkot-led Change bloc 47 and the Palestinian parties 19, and that Eisenkot said Netanyahu should have announced his retirement from politics.

  3. The Guardian

    Source ↗

    The Guardian's live blog reported that Israeli police dismissed Likud's claim that the election was stolen by parties representing Palestinians as the count of absentee ballots continued, and that Eisenkot warned opponents against exploiting foreign-interference allegations to delay the swearing-in of the 26th Knesset.

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