Jerusalem, October 28, 2026: Israel’s parliamentary election has ended without a clear winner, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot both claiming they should be given the chance to form the next government.
Exit polls show neither political camp securing the 61 seats required for a majority in the 120-member Knesset, setting the stage for difficult coalition negotiations.
Netanyahu Bloc Falls Short
Netanyahu’s right-wing and religious allies are projected to win around 51–52 seats, depending on the exit poll.
That leaves the prime minister well short of the 61 seats needed to form a government on his existing alliances alone.
Opposition Also Lacks Majority
The Jewish-led opposition bloc is projected at roughly 49–52 seats.
Eisenkot’s Yashar party has emerged as one of the strongest opposition forces, but he too lacks a straightforward path to a governing majority.
Likud Could Remain Largest Party
Some exit polls show Netanyahu’s Likud as the single largest party even though his overall bloc does not have enough seats to govern.
One Channel 12 projection gave Likud 24 seats and Eisenkot’s Yashar 22.
Arab Parties Could Become Kingmakers
Arab-led parties are expected to hold a significant number of seats and could become crucial in determining who forms the next government.
Their support, abstention or willingness to back a minority government could alter the coalition arithmetic.
Eisenkot Faces His Own Coalition Problem
Eisenkot has previously said he does not want to form a formal coalition with Arab parties.
That position could make it difficult for him to reach 61 seats even if the broader anti-Netanyahu camp wins more seats overall.
Record Turnout Reported
Voter turnout reached around 77.7%, the highest level in more than two decades.
The unusually high participation reflects the importance of the first Israeli national election since the October 7, 2023 attack and the conflicts that followed.
Netanyahu Could Remain Caretaker PM
If no candidate is able to build a coalition, Netanyahu could remain caretaker prime minister while negotiations continue.
Israel has experienced repeated political deadlocks in the past, including multiple elections between 2019 and 2022.
Final Results Still Pending
Exit polls are only projections and can differ from the official count.
Israel’s Central Elections Committee is still counting ballots, with final results expected later this week.
Coalition Talks Could Take Weeks
Once results are finalised, President Isaac Herzog will consult party leaders and decide which candidate has the best chance of forming a government.
That process could trigger weeks of negotiations between larger parties and smaller factions.
Netanyahu’s Political Future Remains Uncertain
The election has therefore not delivered the decisive verdict either camp had hoped for.
Netanyahu remains politically competitive, but the lack of a clear majority means his future as prime minister will depend on whether he can attract additional coalition partners.
Source: Reuters, Associated Press, Times of Israel
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