Benjamin Netanyahu ’s future as Israeli prime minister was hanging in the balance on Tuesday after exit polls suggested his voting bloc would not be able to command a majority.

Exit polls published by Israeli broadcasters suggested that a bloc of parties led by opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot would win the largest number of seats - but fail to secure a majority in the Knesset .

The election drew a record turnout of over 74 percent as Israelis passed judgment on Netanyahu’s handling of the wars in Gaza and Iran , in the first vote since Hamas’ attacks of October 7, 2023.

Israel ’s Channel 12 broadcaster predicted that Netanyahu’s Likud party would win 24 seats, compared with 22 seats for Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party.

But the bloc led by Mr Eisenkot was forecast to receive 52 seats, two more than Netanyahu’s ruling coalition.

While the official results have not yet been announced, the result are likely to plunge Israel into a period of political uncertainty.…