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Earlier on this story24 Oct: Israeli Channel 12 Poll Shows Gadi Eizenkot Camp 52 Seats, Netanyahu Camp 50, Arab Parties 142 more

Israeli Politicsupdated 25m ago3 min read

Israel Exit Polls Leave Knesset Deadlocked as Gadi Eisenkot Seeks To Replace Benjamin Netanyahu

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Exit polls show no clear majority for Netanyahu or Eisenkot; Arab parties surge, pivotal. Likud remains largest party, but neither bloc likely reaches 61 seats to govern.

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Election deadlock begins

Israeli voters went to the polls on Tuesday and, by 22:00, the Central Electoral Commission reported turnout at 77.77%, surpassing the 70.6% recorded at the same time in 2022 elections. Exit projections left the Knesset outcome unresolved, with the “change bloc” led by centrist Gadi Eisenkot projected to gather between 52 and 53 seats out of the 120-seat parliament while Netanyahu’s outgoing coalition was projected to obtain 50. Gideon Saar said the opposition’s celebrations were “premature,” adding that “Likud is the largest party in Israel,” as he shared a video showing Likud’s first electoral victory in 1977.

Gadi Eisenkot told supporters that the exit polls show “total distrust” toward Benjamin Netanyahu and promised to “act immediately to implement the will of the people, replace Netanyahu’s government and establish a Zionist mobilization government as soon as possible.” Yair Lapid posted that Netanyahu’s bloc suffered a “crushing defeat,” saying “It’s a total collapse and the public told them to go home.”

Reporting for this sectionABC

Competing projections, rival vows

Channel 12’s update showed Netanyahu’s camp leading with 52 seats compared with 49 for the opposition camp, while earlier estimates had given the opposition a two-seat lead. The Associated Press said the Election Committee published the first partial results after counting only 2,670 votes, with vote counting to continue overnight as results cleared more in the hours ahead. Naftali Bennett pledged to do everything possible to form a government, telling supporters in Tel Aviv he would do “everything” and abandon personal considerations to form a government that runs the country responsibly and serves all Israelis.

Yair Lapid said Netanyahu and his government faced a “complete defeat,” adding that “the State of Israel saved itself today,” while Eisenkot framed the election as “a referendum on Israel’s leadership.” Bezalel Smotrich refused to declare the opposition a victory and told supporters in Jerusalem, “We will not allow you to celebrate,” asserting the opposition would not succeed in rolling back settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.

Reporting for this sectionAl-Sharq Lilakhbar

What comes next

The BBC said opinion polls did not determine a clear winner, and it described Arab parties as a factor that could tilt the balance as neither bloc reached the parliamentary majority needed to form a government. The BBC reported that initial estimates by Israeli channels 11, 12, and 13 showed the opposition bloc led by Gantz leading with 52–53 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, compared with about 50 seats for Netanyahu’s bloc, and that updated polls later showed a tie while Channel 12 indicated a slight lead for Netanyahu’s bloc. Netanyahu vowed a right-wing government without Arab parties, telling supporters in Jerusalem, “We must form a strong right-wing government,” and adding, “It is not conceivable to have a government supported by Arab parties.”

“It is not conceivable to have a government supported by Arab parties.”
BBC

Gideon Sa’ar told his supporters in Tel Aviv, “The people have spoken against the continuation of Netanyahu’s rule,” and warned Netanyahu: “Do not use Israel’s security to pursue your political ends.” The BBC said preliminary results were expected on October 28 and official results were to be announced on November 4, while around 600,000 absentee ballots, mostly military, would not be fully tallied until Thursday.

Reporting for this sectionBBC