Israel election: Israeli exit polls suggest no clear winner with Eisenkot's bloc just ahead of Netanyahu

Live updates

1. 1h ago

   Israel Election Exit Polls Show Deadlock

   Israeli exit polls indicate a deadlock following a high voter turnout in the country's first general election since the October 7, 2023, attacks. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right coalition faced opposition parties loosely led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot. Exit polls suggest no clear winner has secured a majority, leaving Netanyahu and Eisenkot in a tight race. Opposition leaders declared the result a rebuke of the government, while coalition figures delayed their arrival at party headquarters in Jerusalem as weeks of political jockeying begin.

   Why it matters

   This election serves as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the Gaza war and the October 7 attacks. The projected tie or narrow edge for Eisenkot's bloc complicates efforts to form a stable governing coalition, especially with Arab parties predicted to capture a combined seventeen to eighteen seats. Neither leader is currently on track for a clear majority.

   What is confirmed

   • Israeli exit polls indicate no clear winner and a deadlock between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot.
   • Gadi Eisenkot stated Tuesday night that he is ready to form a government.
   • Arab parties are predicted to reach a combined seat total of seventeen to eighteen, complicating coalition efforts.
   • Two polls project that Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot are tied without winning a majority.

   Still unconfirmed

   • One exit poll maintains a small coalition lead for Eisenkot's bloc.

   What to watch next

   • Official election results and seat allocations
   • Formal coalition negotiations led by Netanyahu and Eisenkot
   Sources used for this update (18)

   1. The Guardian — Israel election live: polls open in most consequential vote in country’s history
   2. www.nytimes.com — Live Updates: Israel Votes in Election Seen as Referendum on Netanyahu
   3. BBC — High voter turnout for Israel election with two hours until polls due to close
   4. Reuters — Live: Israeli exit polls indicate deadlock in pivotal election as Netanyahu faces main rival Eisenkot
   5. The New York Times — What to Expect Now That Polls Are Closed in Israel
   6. The Washington Post — No clear winner in Israeli vote as Netanyahu loses majority, exit polls indicate
   7. The Times of Israel — Netanyahu and Likud ministers in no hurry to arrive at party’s election HQ in Jerusalem
   8. The New York Times — Israeli Voting Ends After Strong Turnout With No Clear Winner
   9. The Jerusalem Post — Israel Election 2026 live updates: Netanyahu, Eisenkot caught in deadlock
   10. www.cnbc.com — Exit polls show a rebuke of Netanyahu but no clear winner in Israel's election
   11. www.jpost.com — Israel election exit polls: Benjamin Netanyahu, Gadi Eisenkot ...
   12. www.aljazeera.com — Exit polls trigger heated debate across Israeli political divide
   confidence 95%