Israel election too close to call - Exit polls suggest

(Times Magazine) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main rival, former Israel Defense Forces chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot, appear short of an outright victory, initial exit polls indicate.

Israelis flocked to polling stations Tuesday to decide the political fate of Netanyahu, the country’s longest-serving Prime Minister who is facing one of the most consequential tests of his political career.

From 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time (1 a.m. to 4 p.m. EDT), Israelis were able to cast votes for representatives in the Knesset. Numbers from Israel’s Central Elections ​Committee reflected a strong turnout, with 66.7% of eligible voters reported to have cast their ballots by 6 p.m., local time—the highest turnout logged at that time since 1973.