Israel election leaves Netanyahu and Eisenkot short of majority

Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot each claimed a mandate to lead Israel after exit polls showed their blocs short of the parliamentary majority needed to form a government, leaving the election outcome unresolved pending official results and coalition negotiations. The preliminary projections from three television networks placed the blocs close together. Two showed them tied at 51 seats each, while one gave Netanyahu’s Likud-led bloc a narrow 52-49 advantage. Neither side was projected to reach the 61 seats required for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. The figures are exit-poll estimates, not final results. Eisenkot, a former military chief and leader of the Yashar party, said he would move quickly to form a government and described the vote as a rejection of Netanyahu’s leadership. He urged Netanyahu to step aside, while opposing the prospect of another election. The opposition bloc’s lack of a projected majority, however, leaves its ability to assemble sufficient parliamentary support uncertain. Netanyahu called for a strong right-wing government and said Israel had an opportunity to act against Iran with U.S. President Donald Trump. He did not claim victory in his...