Exit Polls Show Israel Election Tie

Exit polls from major Israeli television networks show the Knesset election ending in a 51 to 51 split between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing bloc and the opposition led by Gadi Eisenkot. Neither side reached the 61 seats required to form a majority coalition. Earlier polls released on Tuesday evening had shown Eisenkot holding a slight lead. Israeli exit polls are frequently adjusted after initial release and often shift by several seats in the final count.

The Palestinian parties are projected to gain substantial ground, with estimates suggesting they may secure as many as 18 seats. This would be a jump from their current representation of 10 seats. Political experts note that if Eisenkot cannot assemble a majority, he will likely need to negotiate with the Joint List and Ra’am to form a government. Such talks could take weeks. Alternatively, Eisenkot might attempt to run a minority government, relying on informal, vote-by-vote agreements to pass legislation.

The outcome follows a final attempt by Netanyahu and other parties to extend polling station hours past the 10 p.m. deadline. The Central Elections Committee rejected the request. The committee stated it found no evidence of systematic tampering, despite Netanyahu’s public suggestion that efforts by the “left and Arabs” were aimed at stealing the election.

Netanyahu addressed supporters at a rally in Jerusalem shortly after 3 a.m. on Wednesday. He asserted that official results would confirm Likud as the largest party in Israel. He called for the establishment of a strong, right-wing national government and argued that a government relying on Palestinian party support should not be formed.

In Tel Aviv, Eisenkot spoke to cheering supporters. He stated that the Israeli public voted against Netanyahu’s service as prime minister. Eisenkot said a worthy leader would have accepted the non-confidence vote and announced retirement from politics that day. He also warned Netanyahu not to use Israel’s security for political ends, citing fears that the prime minister might launch a new attack on Iran during the period of uncertainty.

The final seat counts will determine the next steps in government formation. The Central Elections Committee is currently processing ballots from all districts. The tie reported in the exit polls leaves both major blocs short of the threshold needed to rule independently, setting the stage for complex coalition negotiations.