Israeli Elections: Exit Polls Show Tight Race, No Clear Majority

Polling stations closed on Thursday evening for the 26th Knesset elections, with Israeli television channels immediately releasing initial exit poll results. A state of intense anticipation prevails in election headquarters and political circles as they await the official vote count, which will determine the makeup of the next government coalition. The elections saw fierce competition among various political blocs, including the Likud, Yesh Atid, National Unity, Shas, United Torah Judaism, Yisrael Beiteinu, Religious Zionism, Otzma Yehudit, New Hope, and the Democratic Union (Labor and Meretz). Arab parties participating included the United Arab List (Ra'am), the Joint List (Hadash-Ta'al), and the National Democratic Assembly.

Exit polls from Channel 12 indicated the Likud party leading with 24 seats, followed by Yesh Atid with 22, and Bayad with 12. The Joint List garnered 11 seats, while Yisrael Beiteinu and the Democratic Union each received 9. Shas secured 8 seats, Ra'am 7, and United Torah Judaism, Otzma Yehudit, and Religious Zionism each got 6.

Channel 14's poll projected Netanyahu's bloc nearing a parliamentary majority with 60 seats, with Likud as the largest party at 30 seats. Yesh Atid followed with 19, Bayad with 11, and the Joint List with 10. According to this poll, the Democratic Union, Shas, Religious Zionism, and United Torah Judaism each received 9 seats. Ra'am and Otzma Yehudit got 7 seats each, while Yisrael Beiteinu secured only 4. This poll also indicated that the lists led by Yoaz Hendel and Yaron Zelekha (Reserve - Economic) and Ofer Winter (Amkha Israel) failed to pass the electoral threshold.

Kan 11's exit poll showed the "Change bloc" with 53 seats, versus 50 for Netanyahu's bloc, and 17 for Arab parties. Likud led with 25 seats, followed by Yesh Atid with 21, and Bayad with 14. The Joint List and Democratic Union each received 10 seats, Yisrael Beiteinu 8, Ra'am and Otzma Yehudit 7 each, and Shas, Religious Zionism, and United Torah Judaism 6 each.

Channel 13's poll also suggested no bloc would achieve the 61-seat majority needed to form a government, with the "Change bloc" leading at 53 seats to Netanyahu's bloc's 50, and Arab parties collectively winning 17 seats. Likud remained the largest party with 25 seats, followed by Yesh Atid with 23, and Bayad with 14. The Joint List received 10 seats, the Democratic Union 9, Yisrael Beiteinu, Ra'am, and United Torah Judaism 7 each, and Shas and Religious Zionism - Identity 6 each. This poll, like others, confirmed the failure of lists led by Winter, Hendel, and Zelekha to pass the threshold.

i24News reported Likud leading with 27 seats, Yesh Atid second with 20, and Bayad third with 15. The Joint List and Democratic Union each got 9 seats, Shas 8, United Torah Judaism, Otzma Yehudit, and Ra'am 7 each, Religious Zionism 6, and Yisrael Beiteinu 5. This poll showed Netanyahu's bloc with 55 seats, the "Change bloc" with 49, and Arab parties with 16, also confirming the failure of Winter's and Hendel/Zelekha's lists to pass the threshold.