No clear winner in Israel's vote, leaving coalition talks uncertain
Exit polls show neither the Netanyahu nor Eisenkot blocs secured the 61 seats required to govern.
By Ana Castro ·
Israeli voters cast 4 million ballots, yet neither major political bloc secured a governing majority.
With 70% of the vote counted, Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition holds 54 seats. The opposition Change bloc, led by former general Gadi Eisenkot, holds 47 seats. Palestinian parties hold 19 seats. A total of 61 seats are required to form a government.
Netanyahu stated he will build a coalition through agreements with Likud, far-right groups, and religious parties. Eisenkot told supporters earlier in the evening that the public chose change. He said Netanyahu should have announced his retirement from politics that day.
The election saw record turnout from Israeli citizens of Palestinian origin. This group makes up about 20% of the country's population and has long faced discrimination. Julian Borger reported from Nazareth that Eisenkot must work with Arab-Israeli leaders to govern. Millions of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza cannot vote in this election.
In Washington, President Donald Trump announced his administration is ending regulations on methane leaks from oil and gas companies. These rules were put in place during the Biden administration. The Environmental Protection Agency projects the move will save consumers and businesses $45 billion. The US emitted more methane from its oil and gas sector than any other country last year. Methane accounts for at least a quarter of current warming.
Trump also suggested Venezuela could become the 51st US state. He displayed a tanker he claimed held 1 million barrels of oil from the country. This comes nine months after the removal of Venezuela's president.
In Brazil, far-right senator Flavio Bolsonaro reportedly fled the country after losing Sunday's election to incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro allies told the news outlet Metropoles that he is heading to Florida to request asylum. They said the Trump administration was informed. Brazilian police are investigating him for a money-laundering scheme worth about $905 million involving betting companies.
Lula condemned the apparent decision to leave. He said the Bolsonaro family treats Brazil as a second home. He added that their first home is the United States, where they are accustomed to licking boots. He called the act of leaving shameful.
