Election Polls Shift Dramatically, Netanyahu Bloc Gains Ground

Exit polls released after the closing of polling stations in Israel showed significant shifts throughout the evening, with the Likud party, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, gaining strength across multiple television channels. Initial projections indicated a tightening race, but updated figures showed the Likud increasing its seat count, widening the gap with Naftali Bennett's Yamina party.

Channel 14's polls suggested the right-wing bloc could secure 62 seats, enough to form a government. Channel 12 reported a substantial gain for Netanyahu, with Likud rising from 24 to 27 seats, while Gadi Eisenkot's Yesh Atid party dropped from 22 to 21 seats. In this projection, the Netanyahu bloc reached 52 seats, surpassing Eisenkot's bloc, which fell to 49 seats.

Kan 11's updated polls showed Likud at 27 seats and Yesh Atid at 21, resulting in a tie between the blocs at 51 seats each. Channel 13's projections also indicated Likud strengthening to 27 seats, with Bennett's party weakening significantly from an initial 22 to 13 seats. In this scenario, the Netanyahu bloc stood at 52 seats.

Channel 12's later updates showed the Democratic party gaining a seat to reach 10, while Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu dropped to 9 seats. The bloc projections on Channel 12 showed Netanyahu's bloc at 50 seats and Eisenkot's bloc at 52.

Channel 14 continued to present the most distinct picture, with its updated poll showing the right-wing bloc at 62 seats, an increase from 61 in its initial projection. The opposing bloc decreased from 41 to 40 seats. According to Channel 14's updated poll, Likud was the largest party with 31 seats.