Israel election results live: exit polls point to tie between Netanyahu and Eisenkot blocs

Israelis woke up to uncertainty after exit polls showed no clear victor in yesterday's elections. Neither bloc reached the 61 seats required to form a majority coalition government.

Earlier exit polls had suggested Eisenkot's bloc would win most seats by a slight margin. However, Israeli exit polls are frequently revised after publication and are known for their imprecision, with final counts often swinging by several seats. The final count is ongoing, with more than 30% of votes tabulated so far.

Voter turnout surged to the highest level in more than two decades, with 77% of eligible voters casting ballots – about 7 percentage points higher than in 2022. This high turnout underscores the significance of an election that has been described as the most important in Israel's history.

Palestinian parties gain strength

The Palestinian parties are projected to dramatically increase their representation in the Knesset, with predictions they could win as many as 18 seats, up from 10 in the previous parliament. Experts suggest that if Eisenkot falls short of a majority, as the exit polls indicate, he would need to negotiate with Palestinian groupings like the Joint List and Ra'am to form a government – a process that could take weeks.

An alternative scenario could see Eisenkot attempt to govern as a minority government, relying on informal vote-by-vote agreements to maintain stability. This would represent a significant shift in Israeli politics and coalition-building strategies.

Leaders claim victory

Netanyahu addressed supporters at a post-election rally in Jerusalem just after 3am, declaring that official results would confirm that 'Likud is the largest party in Israel.' He emphasized the need to 'establish a strong, right-wing national government' and stated that a government depending on Palestinian parties must not be formed.

Opposition challenges Netanyahu

Eisenkot told cheering supporters in Tel Aviv that the 'Israeli public has voted against Netanyahu's service as Israel's prime minister.' He suggested that a 'worthy leader would have accepted the people's non-confidence and announced today his retirement from politics.' Eisenkot also warned Netanyahu against using Israel's security for political purposes, raising concerns that the prime minister might leverage this uncertain period to launch a new attack on Iran.

Election day controversies

The exit polls were released after Netanyahu and several other parties attempted to keep polling stations open beyond the 10pm deadline, a request rejected by the Central Elections Committee. Netanyahu publicly claimed that efforts were being made by the 'left and Arabs' to steal the election, a assertion dismissed by the committee which stated it had found no evidence of systematic tampering.

Former Hamas hostage Ohad Ben Ami expressed alarm at the possibility of Netanyahu remaining in power, stating: 'Three years ago, the government abandoned us. An Israeli citizen should never have spent a year and a half in Hamas tunnels when deals [with Hamas] were on the table.' Meanwhile, Netanyahu supporter Ari Marx was not concerned about another war with Iran, declaring: 'Either Bibi is going to win or there's going to be a new election.' Final results are expected to determine Israel's political direction in the coming days.