Israel recorded its highest voter turnout in more than two decades—but no clear winner—after polls closed Tuesday, NPR reported. The Central Elections Committee said 77.7% of voters had cast ballots by 10 p.m., the highest since 1999.
Exit polls: Likud ahead, no majority
NPR said early exit polls suggested Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud won the most Knesset seats, with Gadi Eisenkot’s center-right Yashar party second. No party reached a majority in the 120-seat parliament, leaving coalition talks likely to decide the next prime minister. Final tallies may take days, NPR noted, and the map could shift as counting continues.
High-stakes vote after Oct. 2023
NPR described this as Israel’s first parliamentary election since the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023 attack and the start of wars in Gaza and elsewhere in the region. The outlet characterized Netanyahu’s current coalition as far-right.
Voters’ stakes and divide
“Important is an underestimation, because it’s much more than important. It’s crucial,” voter Naama Aaronsohn told NPR, saying she worried about the country without a major change. Another voter, Itamar Ariel, said he backed Netanyahu, calling it a matter of Israel’s security, according to NPR.
NPR reported that many Israelis question Netanyahu’s ability to keep them safe after the Oct. 7 attack, citing reports that the government had repeated warnings from countries in the region about a major Hamas assault.
Arab turnout and Netanyahu’s message
NPR said citizens in majority-Arab areas turned out in large numbers. “This government it’s not good for us and … not good for anyone,” said Nur Abu Na, a 30-year-old nurse, per NPR. The outlet reported that Netanyahu posted multiple social media messages during the day flagging high Arab turnout and urging right-wing supporters to vote.
Opposition buoyed, but counts still coming
NPR reported that opposition figures claimed the preliminary results signaled trouble for Netanyahu’s bloc. Shira Efron, a policy analyst at Rand Corp., told NPR it was a “very good outcome for Eisenkot.” At an event in Tel Aviv, Eisenkot said, “We made history! The public has voted for change,” NPR reported. An opposition supporter, Ophelie Namiech, cautioned that the results were “good, but … complex” and incomplete.
Netanyahu camp leans on security, Trump ties
At Likud’s Jerusalem event, NPR described giant screens showing military imagery, including airstrikes and large explosions. NPR added that some clips appeared to depict blasts in Lebanese villages; the outlet noted that human rights groups have condemned Israeli destruction of civilian infrastructure as potential war crimes—an allegation Netanyahu’s government denies.
NPR also reported that the videos repeatedly showed President Trump with Netanyahu. Supporter Elie Pieprz told NPR that Netanyahu often closes late and argued Israelis would back him during wartime, saying he should lead “this war against Iran, particularly with President Trump.”
In early Wednesday remarks carried by NPR, Netanyahu said, “Israel faces a singular historical opportunity, together with our partner President Trump, to remove the existential threat of Iran once and for all.” He celebrated Likud as the largest party and vowed to form “a strong right-wing, national government,” while awaiting final results.
What’s next
NPR said ballots would continue to be counted Wednesday. If no bloc reaches 61 seats, days or weeks of negotiations could follow to assemble a governing coalition.
Reporting and quotations attributed to NPR’s coverage from Israel’s election night and the Central Elections Committee.
