King Charles III arrives in Bahamas for official Caribbean trip as slavery reparation demands grow

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — King Charles III arrived in the Bahamas on Tuesday as part of a nine-day trip to the Caribbean, where he faces calls for an apology and slavery reparations.

It's his first official visit to the Bahamas as king, with the archipelago's government closing all public schools on the island of New Providence to welcome him.

The Bahamian police and armed forces strode out to greet Charles in lockstep, some wearing pith helmets.

Charles stepped out in a light gray suit and donned sunglasses as he greeted Governor-General Dame Cynthia A. Pratt and Prime Minister Philip Davis.

Charles then traveled to Clifford Park, which he last officially visited as Prince of Wales in 1973 to grant the Bahamas independence after 300 years of British rule.

Members of the Bahamas’ Rastafarian community and others lined a road near Clifford Park in protest, demanding reparations. “Pay us what you owe us!” one woman cried out. “I stand in memory of the horrors and the atrocities committed against Black people.”

Meanwhile, a cheering crowd awaited Charles as he arrived at the park, with dozens of young students waving small Bahamian flags ahead of a cultural event that included children singing and playing music.

“We know that some of what is best in Bahamian culture today, the most joyful, the most hopeful, the most bright, was born out of darkness,” Charles said in his first public remarks since arriving in the Bahamas. “It is only right that we should acknowledge the great suffering and injustices of the past in these islands and beyond, even as we rejoice in the successes of the present.”

Jamaica recently took its case for reparations to Charles, and the case has since been referred to the United Kingdom’s highest court of appeal for the Caribbean island. The British government, however, has consistently rejected demands for either an apology or reparations.

While in the Bahamas, Charles also is expected to visit a nature site and meet with the Royal Bahamas Defense Force as well as government officials and civil society leaders.

Some in the Bahamas hope his visit will draw attention to an ongoing environmental struggle on an island that forms part of the Exuma cays.

Eric Carey, former executive director of the Bahamas National Trust, said the Save Exuma Alliance is fighting a development on Sampson Cay that he called “ill-advised” and “out of scale.” He noted that the development calls for a “massive” sea wall and the dredging of sea grass and coral reefs.

“This is not a position of antidevelopment; our country is a tourism-based economy,” Carey said in a phone interview. “Our point is that there are larger islands where larger scale developments could be more effectively and efficiently constructed.”

The case is currently in the hands of the Bahamas Supreme Court, but Carey said he hopes Charles will raise awareness about the issue.

“King Charles has a long history of defending the environment, talking about climate change,” Carey said. “He’s visiting … one of the most vulnerable regions in the world.”

During his speech at Clifford Park, Charles acknowledged the climate challenges that the Bahamas and other nations face.

“We cannot escape the fact that the journey ahead contains some treacherous shoals, in particular in an island nation where 90% of the land sits below two meters,” Charles said. “There is perhaps nowhere better than the Bahamas to understand the reality of climate change.”

Charles is scheduled to spend three days in the Bahamas and then fly to the South American country of Guyana on Oct. 29, where he will spend two days in the former British colony whose president has said he wants an apology.

Charles is then scheduled to fly to Antigua and Barbuda on Oct. 30 for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, where Queen Camilla will join him. Talks are expected to focus on climate, trade and development, but some Caribbean leaders have said slavery reparations should dominate conversations.

Britain's King Charles III inspects an honor guard after arriving at Lynden Pindling Airport in Nassau, Bahamas, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Tim Aylen)

Britain's King Charles III arrives at the Lynden Pindling Airport in Nassau, Bahamas, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Tim Aylen)

Britain's King Charles III inspects an honor guard at the Lynden Pindling Airport in Nassau, Bahamas, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Tim Aylen)

Britain's King Charles III is welcomed as he deplanes at the Lynden Pindling Airport in Nassau, Bahamas, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Tim Aylen)

Britain's King Charles III deplanes at Lynden Pindling Airport in Nassau, Bahamas, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Tim Aylen)

Britain's King Charles III speaks during a visit to the Aberfan and Merthyr Vale Community Centre in Aberfan, Wales, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (Aaron Chown/PA via AP, Pool)

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli voters delivered a sharp rebuke Tuesday to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with exit polls indicating voters gave his opponents a solid majority in the next parliament. Whether those disparate parties can form a government is uncertain and will likely take weeks of haggling.

The easiest path would involve Netanyahu's main rival, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, partnering with Arab-led parties, but that could prove politically difficult and potentially alienate other opposition factions.

The exit polls released by major Israeli TV stations suggested that Netanyahu’s bloc won 50 seats, the opposition won 52 and Arab parties won 18. That would set the stage for weeks of political jockeying before a prime minister is declared — or another round of elections is called.

Eisenkot said the exit polls show a “lack of confidence” in Netanyahu and vowed to form a new government. Arab voters celebrated the exit polls while supporters of far-right parties aligned with Netanyahu expressed disappointment.

Netanyahu had yet to make a public statement two hours after the exit polls were released.

Like all surveys, exit polls are subject to potential error. Preliminary results are expected in the coming hours. Final results are expected in the coming days and may vary from the exit polls.

An inconclusive result would leave Israel in political limbo after the country’s first national election since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack.

The race is widely seen as a referendum on Netanyahu’s nearly unbroken 17-year rule, which had left Israelis bitterly divided on a host of issues even before the deadliest attack in the country's history. The resulting wars in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran, along with settler violence in the occupied West Bank, have stoked worldwide outrage, straining ties with Israel’s closest allies and fueling a rise in antisemitism.

Among Israelis, the election is widely seen as a struggle over the character of the state, pitting Netanyahu and his ultranationalist and religious allies against those seeking to preserve its liberal and secular foundations. The opposition may soon have to grapple with the social divisions — between right and left, and between Jews and Arabs — that have widened during Netanyahu's long and polarizing rule.

Voter turnout was the highest since 1999, with more than 77% of eligible voters casting ballots, according to the Central Elections Committee. Over 7 million people were eligible to vote, and tens of thousands reportedly arrived from overseas.

Israel’s president will be tasked with asking the party leader with the best prospect of forming a government, usually one with the most seats, to cobble together a coalition. If Netanyahu's right-wing Likud emerges as the largest party, he could claim that right.

Meanwhile, there will be heavy pressure on Eisenkot to reach a deal with the Arab parties, while Netanyahu and his allies are likely to cast any such alliance as illegitimate and even treasonous.

If no one can cobble together a majority coalition, new elections could be held early next year. Israel held five elections between April 2019 and November 2022 because of a similar stalemate.

No single party has ever won an outright majority in the country’s 120-seat parliament, forcing political leaders to forge coalitions. Minority governments are also possible, but they must rely on support or cooperation from parties outside the government to pass legislation.

Netanyahu had warned earlier that Arab parties could make or break the election, saying they were receiving “truly massive support" and heading to the polls in "unprecedented numbers.”

As the exit polls were broadcast, supporters at Eisenkot's party headquarters jumped for joy, chanting his name. Eisenkot said the election results pointed to a “complete lack of confidence” in Netanyahu and his right-wing coalition.

“I will act immediately to carry out the people’s mandate, replace Netanyahu’s government and form a Zionist government committed to military conscription as soon as possible,” Eisenkot said in a statement, referring to the draft of ultra-Orthodox Jews into Israel’s compulsory military.

At Netanyahu's party headquarters, filled mainly with media, the few supporters present chanted Netanyahu's name, draping themselves in flags with his face on them and kissing posters.

Netanyahu’s supporters see him as a steady hand and a consummate statesman who has led Israel through a war of redemption after the country’s darkest hour. They think he is protecting Israel’s security and Jewish identity in the face of international pressure and liberal elites at home.

His detractors see him as a polarizing leader who, beset by an ongoing corruption trial, dragged out the war in Gaza and its hostage crisis for political reasons. They say he is undermining Israel’s independent judiciary and weakening its democratic underpinnings. And they accuse him of abetting the system that has allowed ultra-Orthodox religious Jews to avoid military conscription.

“The present government is driving the country into the ground,” voter Angela Bengur said in Jerusalem.

Eisenkot is viewed by supporters as a capable leader with sterling security credentials who, along with his likely governing partners, could act as a bulwark against creeping illiberalism. As someone personally touched by the conflict — his son and two nephews were killed in Gaza — his backers believe that he feels deeply the pain that still courses through Israel.

Parties that likely would support Eisenkot have vowed to improve Israel’s international standing and work to conscript ultra-Orthodox men while bolstering the independence of the judiciary.

The elections are about “who serves and who evades service — who takes an active part in building this country and who doesn’t,” said voter Nisso Shitrit in Tel Aviv's Jaffa neighborhood.

The election is Israel's first national vote since the Oct. 7 attack that sparked the war in Gaza and related conflicts. In Tel Aviv, families of some killed on Oct. 7 or former hostages held a moment of silence during the vote.

“Remember all those whose voices are no more,” said Yona Adam, whose daughter Mapal Adam was killed.

Israel has found itself increasingly isolated over its conduct in Gaza and the West Bank. Public support among Americans has plummeted, and partners in Europe and elsewhere have slapped sanctions on Israel. Netanyahu faces an international arrest warrant over alleged crimes against humanity in Gaza, allegations he denies.

Also hanging over the election were lingering tensions with Iran. Netanyahu ramped up threats ahead of the vote, warning Tehran it would face “a devastating blow” if it attacked Israel.

Associated Press writers across Israel contributed.

Supporters of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu react to the release of the first exit poll results in Israel's general election in Jerusalem on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

People wave flags and cheer in the street as they celebrate early exit poll results for Israel's general election in Tel Aviv, Israel, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

People spray sparkling wine as they celebrate early exit poll results for Israel's general election in Tel Aviv, Israel, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar ("Straight") party, and his wife, Hannah Eisenkot, cast their ballots at a polling station during Israel's general election in Herzliya, Israel, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to the media after voting at a polling station in Jerusalem, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. (Jewel Samad/Pool Photo via AP)

Israeli settlers line up to vote at a school serving as a polling station during Israel's general election in the settlement of Kiryat Arba, in the occupied West Bank, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

A Palestinian citizen of Israel casts her ballot in the country's general election at a polling station in Umm al-Fahm, Israel, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men work at the United Torah Judaism (Yahadut HaTorah) party headquarters during Israel's general election in Jerusalem, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

A woman waves an Israeli flag from a car window during Israel's general election in Tel Aviv, Israel, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar ("Straight") party and his wife, Hannah, arrive at a polling station to cast their ballot during Israel's general election in Herzliya, Israel, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacts after filling out his ballot before voting at a polling station in Jerusalem, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel /Pool Photo via AP)

Israeli settlers and border police officers line up to vote outside a polling station during Israel's general election in Hebron, West Bank, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

A patient on a wheelchair casts his ballot at a polling station at Rambam Hospital during Israel's general election in Haifa, Israel, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner)

Voters line up to cast their ballots at a school serving as a polling station during Israel's general election in Bnei Brak, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar ("Straight") party, visits a polling station in Ofakim, southern Israel, during the country's general election Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Volunteers hang campaign posters outside a polling station, beneath a Democrats banner featuring Yair Golan and beside Likud posters depicting Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump, during Israel's general election in Tel Aviv, Israel, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Israeli settlers line up to vote at a school serving as a polling station during Israel's general election in the settlement of Kiryat Arba, in the occupied West Bank, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Voters arrive to cast their ballots in Israel's general election, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

A man casts his ballot at a polling station during Israel's general election in Haifa, Israel, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner)

Voters cast their ballots at a polling station during Israel's general election in Jerusalem Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

A Palestinian citizen of Israel votes for Israel's general election at a polling station in Maghar, Israel, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

Voters arrive to cast their ballots in Israel's general election, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Voters line up before a polling site opens to cast their ballots in Israel's general election, in Jerusalem, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar ("Straight") party, visits a polling station in Ofakim, southern Israel, during the country's general election Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

A pigeon flies past a Likud Party campaign billboard featuring U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with a Hebrew message reading, "We have one opportunity to win," in Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

A demonstrator picks up an Israeli flag surrounded by photos of victims of Hamas' Oct. 7 attack during an anti-government protest ahead of Israel's general election, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Tel Aviv, Israel. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, leader of the Likud party, gestures to supporters as security personnel surround him during a campaign appearance at a market in Tel Aviv, Israel, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, ahead of the country's general election. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar ("Straight") party, waves an Israeli flag after speaking at a campaign rally ahead of the country's general election, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Tel Aviv, Israel. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

A pedestrian passes a campaign billboard featuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and his main rival, opposition candidate Gadi Eisenkot, with a message in Hebrew that reads "The race is tight," Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, in Tel Aviv, Israel. (AP Photo/David Goldman)