A bitter night in Israel for all who craved a fresh start. Netanyahu survives – and we are more divided than ever | Dahlia Scheindlin

Following Israel's nail-biting election, nearly every political community experienced both triumph and despair. The initial results swung wildly from the first exit polls to the slow real-vote count, with the bloc loyal to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu potentially securing victory, leaving both sides feeling their fate hangs in the balance.

At 10pm Jerusalem time, three television stations published exit polls showing Netanyahu's current coalition winning just 50 out of 120 parliamentary seats, with 70 for the opposition. Netanyahu's Likud party held a slight lead over the main challenger, Yashar party led by former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot.

Opposition hopes dashed

Millions of Israelis who voted for opposition parties felt exhilarated as four Zionist lists within the opposition ran a two- or three-seat lead over Netanyahu's bloc, though neither grouping approached the 61-seat majority needed to govern. Eisenkot celebrated what he called the defeat of the 'coalition of failure' by a 'larger and stronger Zionist majority'.

The alliance of those who served has won,

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett declared victory, referencing Israelis who have served in the military while criticizing Netanyahu's government for shielding ultra-Orthodox Jews from service during Israel's longest and bloodiest war.

Arab voters' surge

The exit polls showed unprecedented gains for parties representing Arab-Palestinian citizens, with 17 or 18 seats out of 120. This community, comprising about one-fifth of the population, had a turnout rate exceeding 75%, significantly higher than in previous years when their participation lagged behind Jewish voters.

Many Arab citizens had traditionally avoided legitimizing elections in a country they perceived as discriminatory, especially during the ongoing occupation and war against Palestinians. However, the urgency of ousting ultra-nationalist, anti-Arab extremists in the current government drove record participation, making Arab parties potential kingmakers in coalition negotiations.

Reversal and divisions

As vote counting progressed, Netanyahu's bloc staged a dramatic reversal, pulling significantly ahead of the four opposition Zionist parties. While Arab parties retained strong support, it was lower than initial projections. Three of the four Zionist opposition parties preferred to exclude Arab parties from coalition-building, potentially allowing Netanyahu to maintain power despite the opposition's overall vote advantage.

The results have left Israel more divided than ever, with fundamental questions about whether the people have anything in common. Opposition voters fear another extremist, anti-democratic coalition, while right-wing supporters celebrate their apparent majority. Arab citizens who participated in record numbers to oust a government they loathe now face potential disappointment, and left-wing Israelis see little hope for their vision of peace.