Israel’s latest exit polls show a deadlock between Prime Minister

’s bloc and the opposition led by Gadi Eisenkot, with updated projections from public broadcaster Kan and Channel 13 putting both sides at 51 seats each.

Channel 12’s revised exit poll gives Netanyahu’s bloc 52 seats and the Eisenkot-led bloc 50, reversing its earlier projection that had the anti-Netanyahu camp marginally ahead.

Turnout reached 77.7%, the highest recorded at the close of voting since 1999, according to Israel’s Central Elections Committee. The strong participation came in an election widely seen as a referendum on Netanyahu’s leadership after three years of war and regional conflict.

Opposition claims mandate for change

Eisenkot arrived at Yashar party headquarters in Tel Aviv and said, “We made history,” arguing that the public had chosen change and voted against Netanyahu continuing as prime minister. He said it would be a mistake to hold another election given the high turnout and described respecting voters’ wishes as his responsibility.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid also declared Netanyahu’s bloc had suffered a defeat. “Don’t let them confuse you: The Netanyahu bloc suffered a harsh defeat,” Lapid wrote on social media, adding that the public had told the government to go home.

Netanyahu said it was too early to draw conclusions and that he was waiting for the “real results”. He maintained that Likud was the largest party and called for a “strong right-wing national government”, saying Israel could not be led by a government reliant on “Arab backing”.

Arab parties could prove pivotal

Kan projected 25 seats for Likud and 21 for Yashar, with the anti-Netanyahu bloc on 53 seats, Netanyahu’s bloc on 50 and Arab-led parties on 17. Channel 13 projected 25 seats for Likud and 23 for Yashar, with 53 seats for the anti-Netanyahu bloc, 50 for Netanyahu’s bloc and 17 for Arab-led parties. Channel 12’s revised projection put Likud on 24 seats and Yashar on 22, with the Jewish-led opposition parties on 52, Netanyahu-supporting parties on 50 and Arab-led parties on 18.

The projected 17–18 seats for Arab-led parties could complicate coalition negotiations. Although they oppose Netanyahu, they are outside the main Zionist opposition bloc and have generally not joined governing coalitions. Their position could nevertheless become consequential if neither main bloc can secure enough support to govern.

Neither main bloc is projected to reach the 61 seats required for a majority in the 120-member Knesset. The result could mean weeks of coalition negotiations and the possibility of another election. Netanyahu would remain caretaker prime minister in the interim, while President Isaac Herzog would consult party leaders and nominate a candidate to try to form a government.

Official votes are still being counted, and exit-poll projections may change as further results come in.