No clear winner in pivotal Israeli election, exit polls suggest

Israelis have cast ballots in their first general election since the attacks of October the 7th, an election widely seen as a referendum on Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership during one of the most tragic and tumultuous periods in the country's history. Well, tonight, exit polls show no clear winner. Netanyahu called for a strong right-wing government as his chief rival, Gadi Eizenkot, claimed Israel voted for change, but so far neither bloc of parties appears on track to get an outright majority in the Knesset. Which means after four years of war, outrage and upheaval, Israel is set for days or weeks of political jockeying to form a governing coalition. Margaret Evans joins us now from Jerusalem. So Margaret, the outcome tonight, not exactly clear. That's right, Adrienne. In terms of the percentage of people who voted against Netanyahu, It is clear that a majority of people did vote for change, but whether or not they're going to get it depends on the complexities of the Israeli political system. From the earliest hours of polls opening, turnout was already being declared high and at historic levels, reinforcing the election's billing as potentially one of the most significant in Israel's history, of leaving both sides in a two-horse race, hoping it will land in their favor. I hope Bibi is the prime minister. Because of Iran, Shoshana Tobol tells us, because he started something with Trump and he has to finish it. She's voting in Starot, about a kilometer from Israel's frontier with Gaza. The Hamas-led attacks of October 7th hang heavy over this election and this city especially. Bibi refers to Israel's longest-serving prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. All smiles as he voted with his wife, hoping to pull another victory out of the bag. But Tal O'Hrein says his time is up. I hope that most of the Israelis agree with me that we need a change. It's not like something bad to say about Bibi Netanyahu. I think he has too much time on the throne. The man who hopes to take it out from under him is former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, a fellow hawk when it comes to Iran. But unlike Netanyahu, he's pledged to set up a state commission into security failures on October 7. Neither of the two are expected to win enough votes for a majority on their own, which is why they need to build coalitions. Israel's Arab parties could well be kingmakers. Palestinian citizens of Israel make up 21% of the population. Celida Boulos is a first-time voter. As an Arab-Israeli, I hope for only peace. I have a lot of Jewish friends, a lot of Muslim friends. Coexistence within Israel has been as absent from the mainstream election debate as the fate of Palestinians in Gaza or the occupied territories. It's one reason Rony Tamari, a Jewish-Israeli physician, returned from New York to vote. And for me, the most important issue that is the root of all this is ending the occupation. She says Israel's credit with the international community is running out. Adrian, that Arab-Israeli vote did prove very significant in terms of historic numbers coming out in part to block Netanyahu. but Gadi Eizenkot has said he won't share power with Palestinian-Israeli parties and that will make it difficult for him to form a coalition. It's not clear whether he will be able to. And Margaret, you know, thinking about Netanyahu, the quintessential survivor of Israeli politics, he's certainly been here before. That's right, and we've seen these kinds of negotiations over coalition governments drag on and on and on, and during that time, Benjamin Netanyahu will remain the interim prime minister and there is no doubt he will do his best to make the most of that all right thank you that is Margaret Evans in Jerusalem tonight