Netanyahu and Eisenkot Tied in Latest Israeli Exit Polls

Revised exit polls released by Israel’s major television networks place Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing bloc in a deadlock with the opposition group led by Gadi Eisenkot. Both sides are projected to win 51 seats in the Knesset. Each bloc falls short of the 61 seats necessary to form a majority coalition government.

The political landscape shifted during the evening of Tuesday’s election. Initial exit polls had shown Eisenkot leading with a slight advantage in seat count. Israeli exit polls are frequently updated after their first publication and are known for their imprecision. The final vote count can vary by several seats from these initial forecasts.

Palestinian parties are expected to see a sharp increase in representation. Forecasts indicate they may secure as many as 18 seats, a rise from their current total of 10. If Eisenkot cannot reach a majority, as the data suggests, he will need to negotiate with the Joint List and the Ra’am party. Analysts note that such negotiations can take weeks. A minority government sustained by informal vote-by-vote agreements remains another option.

Netanyahu addressed his supporters at a rally in Jerusalem shortly after 3 a.m. on Wednesday. He stated that official results would confirm Likud as the largest party in Israel. The prime minister argued that the country must establish a strong, right-wing national government. He added that a government relying on the support of Palestinian parties should not be formed.

Eisenkot spoke to cheering crowds in Tel Aviv later that morning. He claimed the Israeli public had voted against Netanyahu’s service as prime minister. Eisenkot argued that a worthy leader would have accepted the people’s non-confidence and announced his retirement from politics that day. He also warned Netanyahu not to use Israel’s security for political ends. This comment tapped into fears that the prime minister might launch a new attack on Iran during the period of uncertainty.

The Central Elections Committee rejected a last-minute request by Netanyahu and other parties to keep polling stations open beyond the 10 p.m. deadline. Netanyahu suggested publicly that the left and Arab voters were working to steal the election. The committee dismissed that claim, stating it found no evidence of systematic tampering.

With the exit polls showing a near-perfect tie and a history of unreliability, the final tally will determine which side holds the stronger position. Neither bloc appears close to a majority on its own, pointing to a prolonged period of coalition bargaining.