Exit Polls in Israeli Elections Show No Clear Winner
In the general elections held in Israel on October 27, 2026, neither bloc reached the 61 seats required to form a government. Coalition talks between the groups led by Prime Minister Netanyahu and his rival Gadi Eisenkot are expected to last for weeks.
In Israel's 26th Knesset elections held on October 27, 2026, exit polls showed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party and the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot failed to secure a majority in parliament. With turnout reaching 77.7%, the highest since 1999, the failure of either side to reach the 61 seats required to form a government in the 120-seat legislature has plunged the country into lengthy coalition negotiations.
Exit polls revealed a neck-and-neck race between Netanyahu's bloc and Eisenkot's bloc. Sources projected between 50 and 51 seats for Netanyahu's bloc and between 51 and 52 seats for Eisenkot's bloc. Arab parties are anticipated to play a pivotal role with 18 to 19 seats.
During the election process, it was noted that Netanyahu rejected a government relying on Arab parties, while the opposition camp emphasized the demand for a state commission of inquiry established after the October 7 attacks. Allegations that some images shared by Netanyahu on social media were AI-generated also reflected on the election agenda.
Evaluation: Official results are expected to be announced within eight days, and President Isaac Herzog's consultations with party leaders will determine the roadmap for the government formation process. The current picture indicates that coalition searches in Israeli politics could take weeks, or even months.