A look at the main issues in Israeli elections seen as a referendum on Netanyahu

Live updates

1. 1h ago

   Israel Faces Deadlock After National Vote

   Israel faces the prospect of political deadlock following a national election that serves as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Neither Netanyahu nor his main rival, Gadi Eisenkot, secured an outright majority in the vote, which marks the first national election since the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas. Thousands of Israelis flew back from abroad to participate in the high-stakes election. Amid the unclear outcome, Netanyahu has accused Arab parties of electoral fraud, filing formal complaints with election authorities and law enforcement agencies.

   Why it matters

   The election follows the deadliest day in Israel's history and centers heavily on the leadership of Netanyahu and the future of the state. Even as questions surround the political survival of the prime minister, analysts note that policies toward Palestinians are expected to largely endure regardless of the outcome. Turnout was heavily boosted by thousands of voters returning from overseas.

   What is confirmed

   • Israel is holding national elections seen as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas.
   • Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and main rival Gadi Eisenkot both lack an outright majority, leaving Israel facing the prospect of deadlock.
   • Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party accused Israel's Arab parties of electoral fraud, filing complaints with election authorities and law enforcement agencies.

   Still unconfirmed

   • 67,000 Israelis abroad were expected to fly home to vote in the election.

   What to watch next

   • Final certified election results from election authorities
   • Coalition formation talks between Netanyahu, Eisenkot, and potential political partners
   • Resolution of electoral fraud complaints filed by the Likud party
   Sources used for this update (14)

   1. The New Yorker — Thousands of Israelis Are Flying Back to Vote
   2. CNN — Israel is holding its most important election in years. Here’s what’s at stake
   3. The New York Times — Opinion | How Netanyahu Could Cling to Power
   4. AP News — A look at the main issues in Israeli elections seen as a referendum on Netanyahu
   5. USA Today — Israeli vote reckons with Oct. 7, Netanyahu, and future of Jewish state
   6. Ynetnews — ‘The polls never counted us’: 67,000 Israelis abroad expected to fly home to vote
   7. The Guardian — What you need to know about the most consequential election in Israel’s history
   8. AP News — Netanyahu might be finished but his policies toward the Palestinians will largely endure
   9. www.thenationalherald.com — A Look at the Main Issues in Israeli Elections Seen as a Referendum on Netanyahu
   10. www.cnn.com — Netanyahu defiant despite no clear winner in Israel election
   11. www.yahoo.com — Netanyahu accuses Arab parties of ‘stealing’ election
   12. www.newsday.com — A look at the main issues in Israeli elections seen as a referendum on Netanyahu
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