Israel Election Deadlock: Exit Polls Show 51-51 Split
Neither Netanyahu nor Eisenkot holds the 61 seats needed to govern, forcing complex coalition negotiations amid rising Palestinian party representation.
By Emily Brooks ·
Exit polls released by major Israeli television networks on Tuesday evening indicate that Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing bloc and the opposition grouping led by Gadi Eisenkot are tied at 51 seats each. This result leaves both sides short of the 61 seats required to form a majority government in the Knesset. Earlier projections had suggested Eisenkot held a slight advantage, but the final tally places both leaders in a deadlock.
The polls also predict a substantial increase in representation for Palestinian parties, which could win up to 18 seats compared to the previous 10. If Eisenkot fails to secure a majority, political experts say he may need to negotiate with the Joint List and Ra’am to form a coalition. Such talks could take several weeks. Alternatively, Eisenkot might attempt to run a minority government, relying on informal, vote-by-vote agreements to maintain stability.
In Jerusalem, Netanyahu addressed supporters at a rally shortly after 3 a.m. He claimed that official results would confirm Likud as the largest party in Israel. Netanyahu argued that the country must establish a strong, right-wing national government. He stated that a government dependent on the support of Palestinian parties should not be formed.
In Tel Aviv, Eisenkot told cheering crowds that the Israeli public voted against Netanyahu’s tenure as prime minister. He said a worthy leader would have accepted this vote of non-confidence and announced his retirement from politics. Eisenkot also warned Netanyahu not to use Israel’s security situation for political ends, citing fears that the prime minister might launch a new attack on Iran during the period of uncertainty.
The release of the exit polls followed a final attempt by Netanyahu and other parties to keep polling stations open past the 10 p.m. deadline. The Central Elections Committee rejected this request. Netanyahu had publicly suggested that efforts by the "left and Arabs" were attempting to steal the election, a claim the committee dismissed. The committee stated it saw no evidence of systematic tampering.
Israeli exit polls are known for imprecision and are often revised after initial publication. Final counts have historically swung by several seats from the first estimates. The Central Elections Committee will release the official count in the coming days, which will determine whether Eisenkot or Netanyahu begins the process of forming a government.
