Israel election: What we know so far

Neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor his chief rival Gadi Eisenkot are expected to win a governing majority following

Tuesday's election, which saw huge voter turnout and delivered historic gains for Palestinian parties.

With more than three-quarters of ballots counted, Netanyahu's far-right coalition was set to win 53 seats while Eisenkot's alliance was on 47. Arab parties make up the difference and are expected to win a record 20 seats between them.

The vote - the first since the Hamas-led attacks on 7 October 2023 and Israel's subsequent genocidal war in Gaza – was seen largely as a referendum on Netanyahu's rule and the turmoil of the past three years.

Here's what we know so far about the Israeli election.

Netanyahu leads but neither side has a majority

Netanyahu's far-right bloc was leading on Wednesday morning, with 84.5% of votes counted, but was projected to fall short of a governing majority.

The Likud leader's coalition was on course to secure 54 seats, compared with 49 for the anti-Netanyahu bloc.

Netanyahu's Likud was set to remain the largest party in the Knesset with 27 seats, while Eisenkot's Yashar was in second place with 22.

Both leaders have vowed to form a government, despite neither having a clear path to the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-member Knesset.

Addressing supporters, Netanyahu claimed his coalition had won a "decisive majority" and called for the formation of a "national right-wing government".

Eisenkot, meanwhile, declared an end to Netanyahu's rule and the beginning of a "new era" for Israel.

"The Israeli street has chosen change," he told supporters at his party's headquarters.

Arab parties hold the balance of power

A surge in Arab voter turnout has propelled the two Palestinian parties to historic gains, leaving neither of the two main blocs with a majority.

The Joint List is expected to become the joint third-largest party in the Knesset with 12 seats, while Ra'am is projected to secure a record seven seats.

Despite the historic result, it remains unclear whether Arab parties will play a role in forming the next government.

Ra'am leader Mansour Abbas has indicated he would be willing to join an Eisenkot-led coalition, although his party's support alone would not be enough to secure a majority.

The Joint List is unlikely to enter a governing coalition, but its leader, Yousef Jabareen, has suggested he could support an Eisenkot-led minority government to keep Netanyahu out of power.

Voter turnout reaches highest level since 1999

Figures from the Central Elections Committee showed turnout reached 77.7%, the highest in an Israeli election since 1999.

This was 7.1 percentage points higher than in the 2022 election, which brought to power the most far-right government in Israel's history.

Far-right parties fall short of expectations

Israel's far-right parties appear to have fallen short of the gains forecast ahead of the vote, with Jewish Power and Religious Zionism now projected to win six seats each.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's Jewish Power had been expected to secure eight seats, a significant increase on its performance four years ago.

However, the surge in Palestinian voter turnout appears to have reduced the party's share of seats, leaving it short of its target.

What happens next?

The remaining votes are expected to be counted by Friday, with official results due to be published by 4 November, a week after the election.

Once the final results are confirmed, Netanyahu and Eisenkot will seek the support of smaller parties in an attempt to secure a 61-seat majority.

President Isaac Herzog will consult parliamentary factions before deciding which lawmaker has the best chance of forming a government.

The chosen candidate will initially have 28 days to assemble a coalition, with the possibility of a 14-day extension.

With neither bloc appearing to have a straightforward path to a majority, a minority government remains a possibility.

A national unity government involving both Netanyahu and Eisenkot is another option, although it appears unlikely given their political rivalry.

If coalition negotiations fail, Israel could face another election, with Netanyahu remaining in office as caretaker prime minister until a new government is formed.