Exit polls show Netanyahu and Eisenkot tied at 51 seats each
Palestinian parties are projected to nearly double their Knesset representation, potentially forcing weeks of coalition negotiations.
By Nour Haddad ·
Exit polls released by Israeli television networks on Tuesday evening indicate that Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing bloc and the opposition grouping led by Gadi Eisenkot are deadlocked. Both sides are projected to hold 51 seats in the 120-member Knesset. Neither bloc has reached the 61 seats required to form a stable majority government. Earlier polls released on the same day had shown Eisenkot with a slight lead, but the data has since shifted to an even split.
The election took place on Tuesday, October 28. Before the polls closed, Netanyahu and several other parties made a final attempt to extend voting hours past the 10 p.m. deadline. The Central Elections Committee rejected the request. Netanyahu suggested publicly that the left and Arab parties were trying to steal the election. The committee said it found no evidence of systematic tampering.
Palestinian parties are expected to see a major increase in representation. Projections suggest they could win up to 18 seats, up from 10 in the previous term. Experts note that if Eisenkot cannot secure a majority, he will need to negotiate with the Joint List and Ra’am. These talks could take weeks. Alternatively, Eisenkot might attempt to run a minority government using informal, issue-by-issue agreements with other parties.
Netanyahu addressed supporters at a rally in Jerusalem shortly after 3 a.m. He stated that official results will show Likud is the largest party in Israel. He argued that the country must establish a strong, right-wing national government and said a coalition relying on Palestinian party support should not be formed.
In Tel Aviv, Eisenkot told his supporters that the Israeli public has voted against Netanyahu’s service as prime minister. He argued that a worthy leader would have accepted the non-confidence and announced his retirement from politics that day. Eisenkot also warned Netanyahu not to use Israel’s security for political ends, referencing fears that the prime minister might launch a new attack on Iran during this period of uncertainty.
Israeli exit polls are frequently revised after initial publication. Analysts note that the final count often swings by several seats, meaning the current 51-51 projection may change as votes are tallied. The next step involves formal negotiations to determine which leader is tasked with building a cabinet.
The Central Elections Committee continues to process the final results. Both Netanyahu and Eisenkot have claimed victory based on the preliminary exit poll data, setting the stage for a complex and potentially prolonged period of coalition-building in Israel.
