Israeli Election Exit Polls Show Netanyahu Bloc Weakened, No Clear Majority
Translated & summarized from Makor Rishon by baba
Exit polls released October 27, 2026, indicate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc has weakened, with no clear majority for any faction to form a government. Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the YASHA Party, called the results a "lack of confidence" and vowed to replace Netanyahu's government. Opposition leaders declared a "historic opportunity" for change, while some government figures urged caution. Polls show a close race, with the Likud as the largest party, and no bloc reaching the 61-seat threshold for coalition formation.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Exit polls suggest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc has weakened significantly in the elections.
- No single bloc achieved the 61 seats needed to form a government, according to initial results.
- Gadi Eisenkot vowed to immediately work to replace Netanyahu's government and form a new one.
- Opposition leaders declared the public fired the Netanyahu government and called for a change government.
- Government officials urged caution, stating celebrations were premature and the Likud remained the largest party.
- Polls show a close race, with the Likud as the largest single party and Arab parties holding significant sway.
Exit polls from Israeli elections released on October 27, 2026, indicate a significant weakening of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc, with no single bloc achieving the 61-seat majority required to form a government. The polls suggest a close race, with different channels reporting varying results, but a common theme is the inability of either the Netanyahu bloc or the opposition bloc to form a coalition independently.
Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the YASHA Party, interpreted the initial results as a "complete lack of confidence in Netanyahu and the October 7th government." He stated that if these results hold, it represents a victory for the "state-national majority" in Israel and vowed to "immediately act to implement the will of the people, to replace the Netanyahu government, and to establish a Zionist conscription government as soon as possible."
Other opposition figures, like Yair Golan, chairman of the Democratic Party, declared that "the public has fired the Netanyahu government" and called it a "historic opportunity to establish a true change government." Benny Gantz, chairman of the National Unity Party, urged all Zionist and state leaders to enter immediate negotiations for a "Zionist unity government that crosses blocs" to avoid further elections.
On the other side, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar of the Likud party cautioned against premature celebrations, calling left-wing commentary "ridiculous" and asserting that "the Likud is the largest party in Israel." Minister of Education Yoav Kisch advised waiting for the final results before making proposals for the next government.
According to the Channel 13 poll, the Netanyahu bloc received 50 seats and the opposition bloc 52, with the Likud being the largest party at 25 seats and YASHA at 23. Arab parties collectively garnered 18 seats. An i24NEWS poll showed the Netanyahu bloc with 55 seats and the change bloc with 49, with Likud at 27 and YASHA at 20, and Arab parties at 16 seats. Channel 14's poll, which differed significantly, showed the right-wing bloc with 60 seats, unable to form a government, while Eisenkot's bloc had 43 seats and Arab parties 17.
Overall, exit polls from multiple channels suggest that while Netanyahu's bloc has weakened, the change bloc also struggles to form a government without the support of Arab parties. The Likud emerged as the largest single party, and Ra'am was noted as a surprise.
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