Israel Election: Eisenkot Gains Lead in Tight Knesset Race

Israeli voters cast their ballots on Tuesday in a national election marked by the highest participation rates in nearly four decades.

Early exit polls indicate that the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot holds a slight advantage over the current government. The four-party alliance supporting Eisenkot appears to have secured 52 seats in the 120-seat Knesset. In contrast, the coalition led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is projected to win 50 seats, according to three major exit polls.

Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party is expected to win the largest single share of seats, but it falls short of an outright majority. Eisenkot’s Yashar party is projected to come in second. Neither side currently commands the 61 seats needed to form a government on their own.

The final outcome will depend on post-election negotiations to assemble a governing majority. If no single bloc secures a clear majority, party leaders may spend days or weeks forming alliances. Shira Efron, an analyst at the Rand Corp., stated that Eisenkot is the most likely candidate to receive the mandate from the president to form a government. She noted he could attempt to build a minority government or partner with Arab politicians.

Voter enthusiasm was particularly high among those seeking to replace Netanyahu, who has served as prime minister for almost two decades across multiple terms. Naama Aaronsohn, a voter in Tel Aviv, described the election as crucial for the country's future. She expressed concern about the nation's direction without a major political shift.

Netanyahu posted on social media during the day to urge his base to vote, noting the high turnout among Arab citizens. Nur Abu Na, a 30-year-old nurse, said the current government is not good for the Arab community or anyone else. She emphasized the importance of her community voting in this election. President Trump publicly endorsed Netanyahu prior to the vote. The two leaders plan to launch major attacks against Iran after the Israeli and U.S. midterm elections, following their joint military operations in June 2025 and February 2026.