Israel Votes at Highest Rate in 27 Years as Opposition Nears Majority

77.7% of Israeli voters cast ballots in Tuesday's national election, marking the highest turnout in 27 years.

The Central Elections Committee reported this figure as of 10 p.m. local time. This level of participation far exceeds recent norms and signals high stakes among the electorate.

Early exit polls place Gadi Eisenkot, a center-right former military chief of staff, in a tight race against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The preliminary data suggests Eisenkot’s opposition bloc secured 52 seats in the 120-seat Knesset. Netanyahu’s governing coalition appears to hold 50 seats. Neither side won an outright majority in the initial counts.

Because no single party or bloc commanded a clear majority, the path to the next government remains uncertain. Party leaders may need days or weeks to negotiate coalitions if the seat counts hold. The final vote tallies will continue to be counted on Wednesday, which could shift the electoral map.

Voters expressed intense concern over the nation’s direction. Naama Aaronsohn, a voter, described the election as more than important, calling it crucial. She voiced worry about the country's future without major change. Itamar Ariel, another voter, cited security as his primary reason for supporting Netanyahu. In majority-Arab areas, turnout was also strong. Nur Abu Na, a 30-year-old nurse, stated that the current government is not good for her community.

Netanyahu posted multiple social media alerts during the day, urging his right-wing supporters to vote after noting high participation among Arab citizens. In reaction to the preliminary polls, opposition leaders declared a blow to the incumbent coalition. Shira Efron, an Israeli policy analyst at the Rand Corp., said the results looked very good for Eisenkot. She predicted Eisenkot would likely receive the mandate from the president to form the government. He may attempt to build a minority government or join an alliance with Arab politicians.

At a party in Tel Aviv, Eisenkot supporters cheered as the exit polls were released. Ophelie Namiech, an opposition supporter, noted that the results are good but complex, requiring time for a full picture. In Jerusalem, Likud supporters gathered at an election night party featuring videos of military action and images of President Donald Trump shaking hands with Netanyahu. Trump has publicly endorsed Netanyahu. The two leaders plan major attacks against Iran after the Israeli and U.S. midterm elections. Elie Pieprz, a Netanyahu supporter, expressed confidence that the prime minister would overcome the initial poll numbers, citing the need for unity during the war.