Eisenkot bloc edges Netanyahu in Israeli election exit polls

Gadi Eisenkot’s opposition bloc appears to have gained a slight advantage over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition in Israel’s Tuesday election. Early exit polls broadcast after voting ended at 10 p.m. local time showed Eisenkot’s alliance holding 52 seats in the 120-seat Knesset. Netanyahu’s Likud-led coalition trailed with 50 seats.

No single party secured an outright majority. Eisenkot’s Yashar party placed second in the polls, while Netanyahu’s Likud party won the most individual seats. The final outcome will depend on complex coalition negotiations that could take days or weeks to resolve.

The Central Elections Committee reported a turnout of 77.7% as of 10 p.m. This figure marks the highest voter participation in 27 years. Enthusiasm was particularly high among those seeking to replace Netanyahu, who has served across multiple tenures for almost two decades.

Voters in majority-Arab areas also cast ballots at high rates. Nur Abu Na, a 30-year-old nurse, said she believed her community needed to vote against a government she described as racist. Netanyahu posted on social media during the day to urge his base to counter the high Arab turnout.

Shira Efron, a policy analyst at the Rand Corp., told NPR that the preliminary results suggested a strong outcome for Eisenkot. She stated that the most likely scenario involves Eisenkot receiving the mandate from the president to form a government. He may attempt to build a minority government or form an alliance with Arab politicians.

Netanyahu supporters at his election night party in Jerusalem remained hopeful. Elie Pieprz, a voter, noted that Netanyahu has historically reversed early poll leads. He argued that voters would prioritize unity during an ongoing war. Trump, who publicly endorsed Netanyahu, plans to launch major attacks against Iran after the Israeli and U.S. midterm elections.

Votes will continue to be counted on Wednesday. The electoral map could shift as final tallies are processed. Eisenkot’s supporters at a party in Tel Aviv cheered the early results but acknowledged the complexity of the situation ahead.