Israel election: Exit polls show no clear winner, with Netanyahu's fate unclear

Updated exit polls from Israel's major television networks show Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc tied with the opposition at 51 seats each, with neither side achieving the 61-seat majority needed in Israel's 120-seat parliament. Channel 12, however, is now showing the pro-Netanyahu camp with an edge at 52 seats and the opposition at 49 seats.

Kan 11's latest projection gives Netanyahu's Likud party 27 seats, up from 25 in its earlier poll. The results come after a day of high political tension, with voter turnout reaching 66.7% by 6 p.m. local time, the highest partial turnout figure since such records were first taken in 1973.

Eisenkot calls for Netanyahu to resign

Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot addressed supporters in Jerusalem following Tuesday's election, calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to step down. "We've made history," Eisenkot told supporters. "The public voted against the continuation of Netanyahu as prime minister."

The former military chief pledged to work towards forming what he called a "Zionist conscription government," referring to his push for broader military service obligations. He also warned Netanyahu against making major security decisions or launching new wars, arguing that he no longer had a mandate to do so.

Arab party emerges as kingmaker

The success of Ra'am, which exit polls predict will take seven seats, means no Israeli government can be established without the religious Muslim party playing some part. The party already made headlines after appointing Yoav Segalovich, a Jewish former high-ranking police chief, as the number two candidate to leader Mansour Abbas.

Both the Likud-led coalition and large parts of the Israeli opposition may have ruled out a coalition with Ra'am, but the current results may leave them little choice but to seek some form of cooperation with the party. As one Israeli pollster put it, "Tonight, Israelis were reminded that their population also includes Arabs and Palestinians with Israeli citizenship."

High turnout complicates coalition building

The high turnout means the number of votes needed to cross the 3.25% threshold to enter the Knesset is higher, putting smaller parties at risk of not making it. According to opinion polls, the two parties on the threshold limit are Amcha Israel, a far-right party led by former military commander Ofer Winter, and the Reservists Party.

Winter repeatedly said he intends to join a Netanyahu coalition, and a scenario in which his party doesn't make it to parliament puts Likud's chances of a future coalition at risk. The Central Elections Committee has rejected a request by Netanyahu's Likud party to extend voting hours beyond 10 p.m., citing high nationwide turnout.