Israel’s election has ended in a deadlock as no party is on track for majority of the Knesset, exit polls have suggested.
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polls → end → Knesset
The stalemate comes after three years of war waged in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran, which have plunged the Middle East into turmoil.
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which → come → turmoil
The election is widely seen as a referendum on Benjamin Netanyahu, who is seeking another term after a combined 19 years in power.
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who → see → power
But now, the jostling for power between parties to achieve a governing coalition, and name the next prime minister, could take weeks or even months.
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achieve → achieve → weeks
How does the Israel election work?
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election → work → ?
There are 38 different parties contesting the election, but most will not get enough votes to secure one of the 120 seats in the Knesset.
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most → be → Knesset
Israeli elections are based on nationwide proportional representation.
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elections → base → representation
Citizens cast votes for a single party – not for individual candidates – and the party’s number of seats is determined by the proportion of the national vote it receives.
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it → cast → vote
To actually enter the Knesset, a party must receive at least 3.25 per cent of the vote, or four seats.
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party → enter → vote
Historically, no single party has won a majority, so governments are formed by a coalition.
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governments → win → coalition
If no one manages to form a coalition with a 61-seat majority, citizens return to the ballot box.
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citizens → manage → box
When will the final Israel election results be announced?
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results → announce → ?
Polls opened at 7am local time and closed at 10pm that night (8pm GMT).
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Polls → open → pm
An exit poll by Israeli TV channels revealed the initial results, but the official, full results will not be confirmed until Tuesday 4 November.
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results → reveal → Tuesday
However, the whole process will take much longer, ranging from 20 to 100 days.
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process → take → days
In the past two decades, no government has been sworn in in less than 50 days.
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government → swear → days
After a coalition agreement is signed, the Knesset convenes a special session during which the designated prime minister presents the new government and its policy agenda.
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minister → sign → government
A formal vote is then held, and if the new government wins the vote, it starts its tenure.
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it → hold → tenure
The election is viewed domestically as one of the most consequential in the history of Israel.
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election → view → Israel
The outcome could have profound consequences for Palestinians and Israel’s relations with neighbouring states, as well as international partners like the US and Europe.
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outcome → have → US
Some of the main issues centre on the debate over exemptions from military service for ultra-Orthodox Jews, how the state should investigate its inability to prevent the October 7 2023 Hamas attacks and future concessions in Gaza, the occupied West Bank and Lebanon.
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state → centre → Gaza
Israel’s wars have also put pressure on the economy, so the cost of living will definitely weigh on people’s minds when casting their votes.
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cost → put → votes
For context, the state’s defence budget has doubled since 2023.
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budget → double → 2023
Who is leading the polls?
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Who → lead → polls
Two main blocs – of nearly equal weight – are facing off against each other.
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blocs → face → other
One is an alliance of far-right parties dominated by Netanyahu, and the other camp is led by Yashar’s Gadi Eisenkot, a former head of the Israel Defence Forces.
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camp → dominate → Forces
The current exit polls released by major Israeli TV stations suggested that Netanyahu’s bloc won 50 seats, the opposition won 52-53 and Arab parties won 17-18.
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parties → release → 17
Dr Nimrod Nir, of Agam Labs, said that “the real political drama will begin the morning after the election”.
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drama → say → election
“Israel’s election is not a single game, but a tournament – and election day is only the opening round,” he added.
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he → open → ?
“Our polling suggests that neither bloc is likely to secure a governing majority, leaving three possible outcomes: a unity government bringing Netanyahu together with more liberal parties, an alternative coalition backed by Arab parties, or yet another election.”
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bloc → suggest → parties
The Aporia
