Breaking

Exit polls from Israel’s 2026 Knesset elections show a dramatic deadlock, with Netanyahu’s political bloc projected to win approximately 50 seats and the opposition bloc led by Eisenkot securing 52-53 seats. Neither coalition achieves the 61-seat majority required to form a government, according to multiple Israeli television exit polls reported by Ynet, Walla, Jerusalem Post and Times of Israel.

The Arab parties are projected to win 17-18 seats combined, a significant increase from previous elections, with turnout in Arab municipalities reaching unprecedented levels. Turnout in towns such as Umm al-Fahm, Sakhnin, Kafr Qasem and Rahat ranged from 80-83.5%, nearly doubling previous election participation rates, according to Ynet’s reporting.

Within Netanyahu’s bloc, the Likud party is projected to win 24-25 seats, with the Religious Zionist Party (Otzma Yehudit) taking around 22 seats. The Haredi parties Shas and United Torah Judaism are predicted to secure 12-14 seats combined. However, some smaller parties including the People of Israel and the Reservists-Economic Party are projected to fall below the electoral threshold and will not enter the Knesset.

The results trigger complex coalition negotiations, with both Netanyahu and Eisenkot facing significant challenges in assembling a governing majority. Israeli media sources emphasize this represents an unusually competitive and unpredictable political scenario, with the final official count pending completion of all ballot tallying.

Sources: Ynet, Walla, www.israelhayom.co.il, Jerusalem Post, Times of Israel