A bloc of opposition parties held a lead over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, according to exit polls. But it could take weeks or even months to form a new government.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the Likud party, right, is being challenged by Gadi Eisenkot, the leader of the Yashar centrist political party and a former military chief of staff.
Election observers point to risks including the growing sophistication and prevalence of A.I.-generated content and senior government officials who have repeatedly suggested the results could be rigged.
The political evolutions of Naftali Bennett, a former prime minister, and Avigdor Liberman, a former defense minister, are indicative of how Benjamin Netanyahu has polarized Israel.
Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich lead ultranationalist parties that previously joined forces, in deals brokered by Benjamin Netanyahu. They are not on the same slate this time.
Israelis head to the polls on Tuesday for an election that will determine the country’s next prime minister. But it can take weeks, months or longer to form a new government.
New political alliances, a contentious A.I. video and accusations about security failures all featured in the run-up to Tuesday’s election, widely seen as one of the most consequential in Israeli history.
Naftali Bennett, left, and Yair Lapid announced in April that they would join forces in the hope of ousting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But polls have suggested that their new party is likely to finish third.
A banner for the Likud party and its leader, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, with the slogan, “The Right or Palestine.” Other candidates in the elections are to the left of it.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, has long sold himself as the best politician to manage relations with America. Our reporter Mark Mazzetti describes how that alliance is now under strain as support for Israel erodes across party lines.
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