Politics · Other · 1 hr ago
Exit polls show Netanyahu’s opponents ahead but no clear path to power
Israeli exit polls suggest the opposition has a narrow lead over Netanyahu’s bloc, with 52 seats projected against 50.
Arab-led parties are projected to win 18 seats, but neither side has the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-seat parliament.
Former military chief Gadi Eisenkot leads the opposition, and he has pledged to try to form a government.
Israel’s parties usually have to join forces to govern because no single party has ever won a parliamentary majority.
This election was widely seen as a referendum on Netanyahu’s nearly 17 years in power and his handling of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack and the conflicts that followed.
The high turnout included record participation by Israeli Arab voters, whose parties could be pivotal in coalition talks.
Final results are still pending, and parties may spend weeks negotiating before a government is formed; if no majority emerges, Israel could hold another election.
Exit polls in Israel’s October 27 election showed no clear winner, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc projected to win 50 seats and the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot projected to win 52 or 53.
Arab parties were projected to win 18 seats, potentially making them pivotal in talks to form a government.
A majority in the 120-seat Knesset requires 61 seats, so neither bloc was projected to govern alone.
The results could lead to weeks of coalition negotiations or another election, though final results may differ from the exit polls.
Turnout was high, with the Central Elections Committee reporting more than 77% of eligible voters cast ballots, while other reports gave lower figures based on earlier counts.
- Who
- Israeli voters, including supporters of Netanyahu’s bloc, the opposition led by Gadi Eisenkot, and Arab parties.
- What
- Exit polls indicated no clear winner in the election and projected neither main bloc to hold a majority.
- When
- The election was held on October 27, 2026. Exit polls were released that evening.
- Where
- Israel, in an election for the 120-seat Knesset.
- Why
- The election was widely seen as a referendum on Netanyahu’s nearly 17 years in power and his handling of the events of October 7, 2023, and the conflicts that followed.
Netanyahu’s bloc
Eisenkot-led opposition
Coalition prospects
Netanyahu’s bloc
Netanyahu’s bloc was projected to win 50 seats, short of a majority.
Eisenkot-led opposition
The opposition bloc was projected to win 52 or 53 seats, also short of a majority.
Role of Arab parties
Netanyahu’s bloc
Netanyahu and his allies were likely to portray an opposition alliance with Arab parties as illegitimate; Netanyahu had warned they could make or break the election.
Eisenkot-led opposition
The opposition may need Arab parties’ support to form a government, though such a partnership could be politically difficult.
Election outcome
Netanyahu’s bloc
Netanyahu’s Likud could claim the right to form a government if it emerged as the largest party.
Eisenkot-led opposition
Eisenkot said the exit polls showed a lack of confidence in Netanyahu and vowed to form a new government.
Israeli voters cast ballots in an election for the 120-seat Knesset.
Polling stations closed after the Central Elections Committee rejected a request to extend voting hours.
Exit polls projected 50 seats for Netanyahu’s bloc, 52 or 53 for the opposition bloc and 18 for Arab parties.
Preliminary results were expected, according to Al Jazeera.
Official results were due to be published, according to Al Jazeera.
- Netanyahu’s bloc
- 50 projected seats
- Eisenkot-led opposition
- 52 or 53 projected seats
- Arab parties
- 18 projected seats
- Knesset majority
- 61 of 120 seats
- Eligible voters
- More than 7 million
- Official results
- Due November 4, according to Al Jazeera
5 sources
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What people are saying
lack of confidence
left and Arabs