Exit polls show no clear winner in Israel's election

Exit polls after Israel's national election on Tuesday suggest neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc nor the opposition alliance led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot reached the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. Exit polls can be wrong and final results may differ. Turnout was the highest in decades, according to the Central Elections Committee. Without a majority, weeks of coalition talks or another election are possible.

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Why it matters

Israel's next government will shape its policy on the Gaza war, Iran and relations with the United States. Exit polls show neither main bloc with a majority, so Israelis may face weeks of coalition talks or another election. Final results may differ from exit polls.

What to watch

The final vote tally is expected by October 30, with official results on November 4, according to Time.

How each side sees it

Netanyahu saysBefore the exit polls, Netanyahu called it "a very moving and fateful moment" and warned of heavy turnout for Arab parties. Supporters see him as a steady wartime leader.

Eisenkot saysEisenkot urged voters to replace "the worst government Israel has known" and to ignore what he called Netanyahu's "scare tactics." Critics cite Netanyahu's corruption trial and his handling of the Gaza war.

Sources

Checked against 4 established news sources:

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Published Tuesday, October 27, 2026. Spot an error? Email [email protected]. See our corrections log and standards.