Israel election hangs in balance as Netanyahu, Eisenkot short of majority
Exit polls show neither bloc reaching the 61 seats needed to govern, with Arab parties projected to hold the balance of power.
At a glance
- Exit polls show both Netanyahu and Eisenkot at 51-52 seats, short of the 61 needed to form a government.
- Arab-led parties projected at 17-18 seats, their strongest showing ever, likely holding balance of power.
- Voter turnout reached 77.7%, the highest in 27 years, in Israel's first election since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.
Israel's October 27 election produced no clear winner, with exit polls showing both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and challenger Gadi Eisenkot falling short of the 61 seats needed to form a government.
An updated Channel 13 poll projected both blocs at 51 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, while Channel 12 and Kan 11 showed Eisenkot's bloc slightly ahead at 52-50. Arab-led parties, not aligned with either camp, were projected at 17 to 18 seats—their strongest showing ever.
Eisenkot, a former military chief of staff, declared victory and said the results indicate a lack of confidence in Netanyahu's government. "The initial exit poll results indicate a complete lack of confidence in Netanyahu and his October 7 government," he said in a statement on X.
Exit polls are not official results, which will be published on November 4. Voter turnout reached 77.7%, the highest in 27 years, according to the Central Elections Committee.
The vote was the first national election since Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack and the subsequent wars in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran, widely seen as a referendum on Netanyahu's 15-year dominance of Israeli politics.
Netanyahu's supporters credit him with steering Israel through the war, while critics cite his corruption trial, judicial overhaul efforts, and Gaza war handling. He also faces an International Criminal Court arrest warrant over the Gaza campaign, which he has rejected.
The strong Arab-party showing could be decisive in coalition talks. Ra'am leader Mansour Abbas said "our vote will change the government," and Joint List chairman Ahmad Tibi had previously outlined plans to prevent Netanyahu from remaining in power.
Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman, projected at seven to nine seats, refused during the campaign to rely on Arab parties. Netanyahu and his far-right allies warned of Arab participation, drawing racism accusations.
Even if Eisenkot wins more seats, forming a majority without Arab and left-wing parties may prove difficult, said Michael Feller, chief strategist at Geopolitical Strategy. Netanyahu may attempt to stall government formation in the coming weeks, said Amin Saikal of Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.
Source: CNBC Top News
Questions and answers
- Who won the Israeli election?
- No clear winner emerged. Exit polls show both Netanyahu and Eisenkot short of the 61 seats needed to govern, with Arab parties holding the balance of power.
- When will official results be announced?
- Official results will be published on November 4, a week after the October 27 election.
- What was voter turnout?
- Voter turnout reached 77.7%, the highest in a Knesset election in 27 years.
