Israelis have changed. Will they change their leadership?

Live updates

1. 47m ago

   Israel Faces Political Deadlock After Post-War Election

   Israel returned to political deadlock after a high-stakes national election left the opposing political blocs roughly even without a clear winner. Vote counting continued following an election shaped by the trauma of the October 7, 2023, attacks and an eight-month war with Iran. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party remains Israel's largest party, while opposition blocs led by Gadi Eisenkot are tied with Netanyahu's camp. Forming the next government could take weeks, with coalition arithmetic complicated by an enlarged Arab bloc and political upstarts.

   Why it matters

   The national election tested Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership following years of war and the devastation of the 2023 terrorist attacks. The vote carries high strategic costs amid ongoing tensions with Iran and political divisions over how to move forward. Analysts note that the outcome reveals deeper political exclusions and inequalities within Israeli society.

   What is confirmed

   • Israel held a national general election after years of war, with vote counting showing blocs led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and challenger Gadi Eisenkot roughly even.
   • Netanyahu's Likud remains Israel's largest party.
   • The election takes place three years after the October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks and during an eight-month war with Iran.

   Still unconfirmed

   • US President Trump claimed that his endorsement helped Netanyahu avoid defeat in the election.

   What to watch next

   • Finalization of vote counting and official results
   • Coalition negotiation talks between political blocs
   • Potential formation of a unity government
   Sources used for this update (22)

   1. www.aljazeera.com — Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera
   2. Reuters — Disenchanted Netanyahu supporters are prize of Israel election campaign
   3. The Washington Post — Netanyahu casts Arab parties as a threat. They could be key to his defeat.
   4. CNN — Israel is holding its most important election in years. Here’s what’s at stake
   5. The New Yorker — The Political Upstarts That May Decide Israel’s Election
   6. NPR — Israelis have changed. Will they change their leadership?
   7. www.ms.now — Netanyahu’s leadership since the Oct. 7 attacks is tested as Israelis vote
   8. www.nytimes.com — Live Updates: No Clear Winner Yet in Israel’s Pivotal Election
   9. www.jns.org — Three years after Oct. 7, Israelis return to political deadlock
   10. www.yahoo.com — 8-month Iran war looms large over Israeli election
   11. www.michiganpublic.org — Israelis have changed. Will they change their leadership? - Michigan Public
   12. www.wvasfm.org — Democrats have a midterm edge, poll shows. And, Israelis vote in high-stakes election - WVAS
   confidence 95%