Israel election exit polls: Netanyahu, Eisenkot deadlocked as both blocs fall short of majority

Illustrative image of Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot
Yashar party chairman Gadi Eisenkot is seen gesturing to the crowd following the 2026 elections October 27, 2026.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara Netanyahu, speak with members of the public in the city of Beit Shemesh, just hours before polls close on Israel’s general election day, October 27, 2026.

Election Night: Netanyahu's bloc overtakes opposition, but both fall short of majority

Live Updates

Israel has voted, but the coalition deadlock is just beginning

ANALYSIS
A child looks at a banner depicting Prime Minister and Likud party leader Benjamin Netanyahu, during the country's national elections in Jerusalem, October 27, 2026.
A SUPPORTER holds up a sign of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in support, just as the first exit polls were publicized, on October 27, 2026 at the Likud election headquarters in Jerusalem.

Likud expects stronger result in final count as Netanyahu prepares to address supporters

ANALYSIS
MK Mansour Abbas attends a plenum session and a vote on a bill to split the duties and powers currently held by the attorney general between two separate officeholders, at the assembly hall of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, July 15, 2026.

Israeli Arab political power rising with elections, challenging world’s assumptions

COMMENT

Netanyahu or Eisenkot? Israel's election leaves Herzog with an impossible choice

Yashar party head Gadi Eisenkot waves during an election rally at Hangar 11 in Tel Aviv, two days ahead of Israel’s general elections, October 25, 2026

Eisenkot declares victory as bloc takes lead over Netanyahu's, despite election deadlock

Joint List party chairman Yousef Jabareen and supporters gather at the party’s election headquarters in the northern Israeli city of Nazareth, following the closing of polling stations on Israel’s general election night, October 27, 2026.

Arab parties Ra'am, Joint List soar to 19 seats amid high turnout, election exit polls show

Arab Israelis cast their vote at a voting station in Maghar, during the Knesset Elections, on November 1, 2022.

Arab voter turnout surges past 2022 figures as haredi strongholds lag behind

Democrats party chairman Yair Golan and members of his party celebrate at the party’s election headquarters in Tel Aviv, following the release of exit poll results on Israel’s general election night, October 27, 2026.

Yair Golan's Democrats projected to win 9-10 Knesset seats in Israeli election, exit polls show

A view of the empty Shas party election headquarters in Jerusalem, following the closing of polling stations and the release of exit poll results on Israel’s general election night, October 27, 2026.

Shas, UTJ projected to win 12-15 seats in next Knesset, election exit polls predict

Yisrael Beiteinu party chairman MK Avigdor Liberman at the party’s election headquarters in Tel Aviv, on Israel’s general election night, October 27, 2026.

Liberman's Yisrael Beytenu projected to win 7-8 seats in next Knesset, election exit polls predict

Arab voter turnout would have been lower had there been any other outgoing government

ANALYSIS
A woman votes during the national election in the Arab city of Umm al-Fahm, northern Israel, October 27, 2026

Arab voter turnout surges past 2022 figures as haredi strongholds lag behind

COMMENT

Eisenkot and Netanyahu have reason to celebrate, but Israel does not, yet

(L-R): Yashar head Gadi Eisenkot; Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Ben-Gvir to win 6-7 seats as Smotrich's RZP takes 6, election exit polls project

Otzma Yehudit party chairman and Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, alongside members of his party, at the party’s election headquarters in Modiin, on Israel’s general election night, October 28, 2026.

Likud officials sound alarm over voter apathy as Israel sees record-high election turnout

Election campaign posters are seen outside a polling station in Ashdod during Election Day, October 27, 2026.

Can business save Israel-Australia relations? Ambassador says there is still hope

Israeli Ambassador to Australia Hillel Newman.

CEC denies Likud's request to extend Israeli election voting time past 10 p.m.

 People enjoy the atmosphere at the Mahane Yehuda market in Jerusalem during Israel’s general election day, October 27, 2026

Likud rep. accuses CEC of neglecting purity of vote counting in favor of high voter turnout

WATCH

Democrats activist knocked unconscious by Otzma Yehudit-affiliated activist in Holon

An Israeli votes in the 2026 Knesset election, October 27, 2026.

Bennett's B'Yachad projected to win 12-13 seats in next Knesset, election exit polls predict

B'Yachad head Naftali Bennett arrives to cast his ballot at a polling station in Rananna, during Election Day in Israel, October 27, 2026.

Ra'am, Israeli civil rights watchdog receive reports of voter obstruction in Arab sector

Israelis cast their votes at a polling station in Jerusalem during Election Day, October 27, 2026.

How is the Western world reporting on Israel's 26th Knesset elections?

Illustrative: A voting box in the an Israeli election in 2015.

How is the Muslim world reporting on Israel’s election?

Brazilian presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro of the Liberal Party (PL) speaks after losing the presidential runoff election, in Brasilia, Brazil October 25, 2026.

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REPORT
President Isaac Herzog casts his ballot in the 26th Knesset election in Jerusalem.

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STUDY

Some 75% of Jewish employees find workplace DEI approaches inconsistent on antisemitism

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INTERVIEW

‘We bear the consequences’: Diaspora Jews fear fallout from Israel’s election

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A Palestinian property damaged in an attack by extremist Israeli settlers in Jalud, south of Nablus, September 29, 2026.

Houthis claim to have hit Saudi Ras Tanura oil refinery, defense ministry with ballistic missiles

ANALYSIS

Iraq deepens ties with Jordan as Baghdad looks to strengthen regional alliances

Settlers in the Mateh Binyamin area, a regional council governing 47 Israeli settlements and outposts in the West Bank. November 02, 2025. (Illustrative)

New settlement outposts opening in Hebron Hills in response to Yehuda Junction attack

Israeli security forces near the scene of a shooting attack near the West Bank city of Hebron, October 23, 2026. Five people were wounded in the attack, two of them seriously, and two Palestinian terrorists were killed by Israeli forces.

Palestinians protest against military demolitions in West Bank as Israelis vote

Eisenkot is hoping to beat Netanyahu, but what does the Yashar leader stand for?

EXPLAINER
Headquarters of the Yashar Party led by Gadi Eisenkot during Israel's general election on October 27, 2026.

'We do whatever they say': Yeshiva students defer to rabbis over response to IDF draft enforcement

EXPLAINER

Israel Election 2026: What does Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar stand for?

Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar party, together with party members, attends the presentation of the party’s candidate list ahead of the upcoming general elections in Rosh HaAyin, September 7, 2026.

'Don't feel like waiting': Voters complain of long lines at polling stations amid historic turnout

Israelis cast their votes at a polling station in Jerusalem during Election Day, October 27, 2026.
OPINION

Israel’s election system puts coalition deals ahead of voter choice

ByDANIEL EPSTEIN-O’DOWD, SETH BARRETT TILLMAN

Netanyahu has turned Israel into a defense-tech powerhouse and a model US ally

OPINION
FILE PHOTO: US President Donald Trump points his finger towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as they shake hands during a press conference after meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, US, December 29, 2025

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Two men charged in UK with helping Iran over RAF Fairford incident

US Air Force bombers sit on the tarmac at RAF Fairford base in Fairford, south-west England on September 28, 2026, a day after British counter-terrorism police were probing "a major" incident near the base.

Hacker trying to breach US Federal Election Commission system, email shows

POLL

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Trump says Brazil election looked 'rigged', defeated Bolsonaro's party recognizes Lula win

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva gestures as he addresses supporters after his victory in the presidential runoff election, at Paulista Avenue, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, October 26.

Israeli ad tech company targeted Starlink internet users in suspected attempt at espionage

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Mark Wilf at The Jewish Agency: Building connection, unity, and trust

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Israelis head to polls with open wallets as Election Day spending rises sharply from 2022 election

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An Israel Police officer standing outside the headquarters of Lahav 433 - The National Crime Unit; illustrative.

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Intel agrees to buy Classiq in biggest Israeli acquisition since Mobileye

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Nepal urges villagers to evacuate after flood triggered by landslide, no casualties, five missing

Earthquake of magnitude 7 strikes China's Tibet, killing 16, Xinhua reports

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Eilat records first rain of year as authorities issue flash flooding warning in Dead Sea region

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Health workers and humanitarian responders on the front lines of the Ebola response gather to receive a vaccination due to their potential exposure to the virus as part of their work with suspected cases  in the North Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, October 16, 2026.

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Alex Silnitsky addresses a gathering of former Prisoners of Zion and aliyah activists at the Heritage Ministry in Jerusalem on October 5.

Lone soldiers, b'not sherut find a true home at the Michael Levin Base

French political turmoil may affect olim with restrictions on transferring money out of country

Immigrants from France are welcomed to Israel at Ben-Gurion Airport in August.

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AT HEBREW UNIVERSITY.

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Diaspora   

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Archaeology   

A Yarmukian juglet found in a cave in Samaria.

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Hula valley's Gesher Benot Ya’aqov.

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Culture   

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History   

Oscar Levis, known early in his career as “Chick Levy,” and later as “Oscal,” was celebrated as the premier pitcher in Panama before joining the Cuban Stars and Hilldale Daisies in the Negro Leagues.

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