Israel's election has left Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc ahead but without a majority, according to tallies reported by The Times of Israel. With all votes counted, the outlet reported Netanyahu's bloc at 53 seats, Gadi Eisenkot's at 48 and Arab parties at 19. Dawn likewise reported that Netanyahu's bloc finished first but well short of a majority.
The Washington Post profiled Eisenkot as a bereaved general seeking to outmaneuver Netanyahu. The Post's headline describes him that way; the reporting summary provided does not elaborate on his personal history or campaign strategy.
With no bloc holding a majority, the Arab parties' 19 seats appear central to what happens next. CNN reported that Palestinian citizens of Israel turned out to vote after decades of boycotts, a shift that could shape the outcome. Reuters reported that Netanyahu, at risk of losing power, stepped up attacks on Israel's Arab parties.
The seat totals alone do not settle who will form a government. Coalition arithmetic will decide that, and the smaller parties' positions will matter as much as the two leading blocs' totals.
Watch whether negotiations begin between Eisenkot's camp and the Arab parties, and how Netanyahu's bloc responds.
