Israel election exit polls show Netanyahu and Eisenkot blocs tied at 51 seats
Exit polls indicate a deadlock with neither bloc reaching the 61-seat majority needed to form a government, while Palestinian parties are projected to nearly double their representation.
At a glance
- Exit polls show Netanyahu and Eisenkot blocs tied at 51 seats each, short of the 61-seat majority needed to govern.
- Voter turnout reached over 77%, the highest in more than 20 years, with final counting still underway.
- Palestinian parties are projected to win up to 18 seats, nearly doubling their previous representation.
Israeli voters woke up on Wednesday to exit polls showing no clear winner in Tuesday's parliamentary election, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing bloc and the opposition alliance led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot each projected to win 51 seats in the 120-member Knesset. The tie leaves both sides short of the 61 seats required for a governing majority.
Voter turnout surged to more than 77%, the highest level in over two decades and about seven percentage points above the 2022 election, according to Israel's Central Elections Committee. Final counting is underway with more than 30% of votes tabulated so far. Israeli exit polls are frequently revised and have a history of imprecision, with final results often shifting by several seats.
Palestinian parties set for gains
Palestinian parties are projected to dramatically increase their representation, potentially winning up to 18 seats compared with 10 in the previous Knesset. The Joint List and Ra'am could become pivotal if Eisenkot falls short of a majority, as experts say he would need to negotiate with them to form a government — a process that could take weeks. A minority government relying on informal vote-by-vote agreements is another possibility.
Rival claims and warnings
Netanyahu addressed supporters in Jerusalem after 3 a.m., declaring that official results would show Likud as Israel's largest party and calling for a "strong, right-wing national government" that excludes Palestinian parties. He also reiterated his willingness to pursue military action against Iran alongside U.S. President Donald Trump.
Eisenkot, speaking in Tel Aviv, said the public had voted against Netanyahu's continued premiership and warned him not to "use Israel's security for your political needs" — a reference to concerns Netanyahu might launch a conflict to force a unity government. Eisenkot also told security officials they serve the state, not Netanyahu, whom he called a "caretaker prime minister, without a mandate or the people's trust."
Election integrity disputes
The Central Elections Committee rejected a last-minute request by Netanyahu and allies to extend polling hours past the 10 p.m. deadline. Netanyahu subsequently alleged that the "left and Arabs" were attempting to steal the election, a claim the committee dismissed, stating it had seen no evidence of systematic tampering.
Source: The Guardian World.
Questions and answers
- Who is leading in the Israel election exit polls?
- Exit polls show Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc and Gadi Eisenkot's opposition bloc tied at 51 seats each, with neither reaching the 61-seat majority.
- What was voter turnout in the Israeli election?
- More than 77% of eligible voters cast ballots, the highest turnout in over two decades and about seven points higher than in 2022.
- How many seats are Palestinian parties projected to win?
- Palestinian parties are projected to win up to 18 seats in the Knesset, up from 10 in the previous election.
