Israel election deadlock: four scenarios for forming a government, new elections possible

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Israel's election leaves no clear winner as counting continues toward a November 4 result

With 85% of votes counted by Wednesday, results point to an impasse and new elections may be the most likely outcome, according to one analysis. Netanyahu called for a right-wing government, while Eisenkot said voters had rejected him. Likud is the largest single party and Netanyahu's bloc edges past the opposition, per Al Jazeera, but neither main bloc appears to have a majority without Arab parties. Official results are due on November 4.

• Netanyahu called a coalition with Arab parties 'a disgrace and a shame', and he and Smotrich made statements against Arab voters during the count.
• Exit polls projected up to 18 seats for the Arab bloc after record turnout, and Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit lost seats.
• Israel's Tel Aviv 125 index fell more than 2 percent on Wednesday amid uncertainty over the next government.
• President Herzog, whose role is largely ceremonial, must choose a candidate to form the government.