Israel opposition holds narrow edge over Netanyahu in first projections

JERUSALEM, Undefined (AFP)—Israeli voters on Tuesday gave a narrow edge to opposition parties over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, initial projections showed, after decades-high turnout in the country’s first election since the trauma of the October 7, 2023 attacks.

Netanyahu, Israel’s longest serving prime minister, had run on promises to fight enemies from Hamas to Iran and had spent election day raising fears of Israeli Arab voters who came out in historic numbers against his hard-right government.

Early projections broadcast by Israeli television networks showed that no party would take an absolute majority but that the bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot, a centre-right former military chief, enjoyed a small advantage.