Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party have claimed that Israel’s Tuesday elections were "stolen" by Arab parties after falling short of a governing majority, in a direct play from the Donald Trump playbook.
The unsubstantiated allegations attack an Arab electorate that took just 19 seats in the 120-seat parliament — a small minority of the total vote.
The prime minister’s bloc remains on course to win 54 seats, while main challenger Gadi Eisenkot’s grouping trails at 49, with 92 percent of votes tallied.
The results could still change as counting continues, but a victory for Eisenkot appears increasingly out of reach as his anti-Netanyahu coalition underperformed pre-election polls.
With Netanyahu losing his bloc's narrow Knesset majority, his opponents have little hope of unseating him without broad backing from Arab factions, leaving Israel locked in severe political paralysis.
Trump infamously refused to concede the 2020 US election to Joe Biden and routinely attacks the results of free and fair elections, with no evidence.
Read MoreExit polls show no clear winner in Israeli elections. What happens next?
Netanyahu’s fate in balance after historic Israeli election with no bloc on course for majority
I’ve flown back to Israel to say bye-bye to Bibi Netanyahu – and vote him out for the last time
Key Points
- Israel election sees record voter turnout but exit polls suggest no clear winner
- Likud claims election ‘stolen’ by Arab parties, alleges fraud and illicit software
- Netanyahu says Israel has 'historic opportunity' to remove Iranian threat
- Netanyahu calls for formation of 'strong, right-wing' government
- Netanyahu's bloc leads with 55 seats after more than 50% of votes counted
- Eisenkot calls on Netanyahu to quit politics
- Trump credits himself for boosting Netanyahu's electoral chances
Netanyahu bloc cannot be defeated 'without Arab citizens,' says Israeli politician
17:48 , Suha KidwaiAyman Odeh, leader of the Hadash-Ta’al list alongside Ahmad Tibi, said Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing bloc would have secured an outright majority if not for the turnout of Palestinian citizens of Israel.
"Without the Arab citizens, Netanyahu, Ben-Gvir, and Smotrich would already be celebrating today," Odeh wrote in a post on social media.
Odeh added that while Arab voters held the balance of power, broader cooperation across the political spectrum remains necessary to break the right's grip on power: "The truth is simple: even the Arab citizens alone cannot bring about the change, and even without us, it’s impossible to defeat them."
"Without a genuine and equal Jewish-Arab partnership, it’s impossible to build a better future here for all of us," he said. "And we all deserve such a future."
Netanyahu pulls ahead in Israeli election as rivals weigh deal with Arab parties
17:30 , James ReynoldsBenjamin Netanyahu has pulled ahead in the Israeli elections with nearly 92 per cent of all ballots counted, leaving his opponents to weigh an unlikely deal with the Arab parties as victory falls further out of view.
Israel’s longest-serving prime minister was on course to win 53 seats in parliament between his Likud party and allies on the right, well ahead of the 48 forecast for the opposition bloc of rival Gadi Eisenkot.
Parties representing Israelis of Arab descent were meanwhile set to win an unprecedented 19 of 120 possible seats, following high turnout from passionately motivated voters in the first elections since the October 7, 2023 attacks and ensuing regional conflicts.
Netanyahu pulls ahead in Israeli election as rivals weigh deal with Arab parties
Comment: Netanyahu faces a near impossible task to survive – this is why
17:00 , James ReynoldsThe Israeli prime minister is desperate to stay in power but the success of the Arab-led parties makes his future a lot more difficult, writes chief international correspondent Bel Trew:
Netanyahu faces a near impossible task to survive – this is why
Likud claims election ‘stolen’ by Arab parties, alleges fraud and illicit software
16:30 , Suha KidwaiBenjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party has claimed that Israel’s election was “stolen” by Arab-led parties, alleging extensive criminal violations at polling stations across the country.
In a statement reported by Israeli media, Likud asserted that “the election in the State of Israel was stolen by Arab parties that support terrorism and the destruction of the Jewish state, through serious criminal offences.”
Without publicly releasing evidence, the party accused the Arab lists of deploying “prohibited” software to mobilise voters, alongside allegations of “bribery, threats, violence, [and] forgery.”
Likud said it has submitted evidence in support of its claims to the Shin Bet domestic security agency and the Central Elections Committee.
The move follows sharp campaign attacks by Likud against the Arab lists, which Arab politicians pushed back on during voting day, accusing Netanyahu of inciting hatred against Palestinian citizens as a “scare tactic to mobilise right-wing voters.”
There was no immediate comment from the Arab-led parties regarding Likud's claims.
Comment: I’ve flown back to Israel to say bye-bye to Bibi Netanyahu – and vote him out for the last time
16:20 , James ReynoldsMany of us are hoping to stop a record-breaking fifth term for Bibi (which is why I’m flying home to cast my vote), but what worries me is that many Israelis simply aren’t engaging with the need for change, says Yaniv Korman
I’ve flown back to Israel to say bye-bye to Bibi Netanyahu
Elections, corruption scandals and assassination attempts: Netanyahu’s remarkable history of survival
15:55 , James ReynoldsBenjamin Netanyahu and his allies are on track to win the most seats in Israel’s parliament, despite weeks of polling predicting he would not survive Tuesday’s election.
The central election committee was still tallying votes on Wednesday, and it will likely take until Thursday before definitive results of the election are known.
Current forecasts suggest Netanyahu and his allies will win 54 seats, falling short of the 61 needed for a majority in the Knesset, but also leaving his main challenger Gadi Eisenkot without a clear path to government.
From elections to assassination attempts: Netanyahu’s remarkable history of survival
Ed Miliband ‘deeply concerned’ after MPs detained by Israel
15:40 , James ReynoldsForeign secretary Ed Miliband has said he was "deeply concerned" after British politicians reported being detained for eight hours by Israeli officials and turned back from the West Bank.
Clive Lewis of Labour, the SNP’s Lara Bird, and Scottish Greens MSP Kate Nevens stated they were interrogated and refused entry on Monday.
Speaking in the House of Commons on Tuesday, Mr Miliband confirmed that the Government has formally raised the matter with Israeli authorities.
Read the full story:
Miliband ‘deeply concerned’ after MPs held and barred from West Bank
Revisited: Gadi Eisenkot: Former Israeli army chief who could topple Netanyahu
15:00 , James ReynoldsAfter millions of Israelis cast their votes, Gadi Eisenkot has emerged as a key challenger to Netanyahu’s long-standing dominance of Israeli politics. Suha Kidwai reports
Who is Gadi Eisenkot? The former Israeli army chief who could topple Netanyahu
The latest: Who won the Israel election? Live results as vote counts continue
14:20 , James ReynoldsResults are still pouring in from Israel’s election yet it remains unclear whether Gadi Eisenkot or Benjamin Netanyahu will lead the nation.
Israel's Central Elections Committee is continuing to tally votes, with expectations that definitive results won’t be drawn up until Thursday. With 84 per cent of the votes tallied, neither side appears on track to win an outright majority in the 120-seat Knesset, Israel’s parliament.
The prime minister’s bloc was on course to win 54 seats, while main challenger Gadi Eisenkot’s grouping would take 49, based on partial results shared on Wednesday early afternoon, local time. The remaining Arab-led parties, the Joint List and Ra’am, drop to 17 seats.
Israel exit polls show no clear winner in 2026 elections. What happens next?
13:40 , James ReynoldsIsrael’s election has ended in a deadlock as no party is on track for a majority of the Knesset, exit polls have suggested.
The stalemate comes after three years of war waged in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran, which have plunged the Middle East into turmoil.
The election is widely seen as a referendum on Benjamin Netanyahu, who is seeking another term after a combined 19 years in power.
But now, the jostling for power between parties to achieve a governing coalition and name the next prime minister could take weeks or even months.
Israel exit polls show no clear winner in 2026 elections. What happens next?
92.9 per cent of ballot boxes counted
13:13 , Bryony GoochMore than 90 per cent of ballot boxes have been counted for Israel’s election.
Likud, Benjamin Netanyahu’s party has seen a drop in its vote share to 20.74 per cent.
What happens after the results are published?
12:40 , James ReynoldsAfter the final tally is in, President Isaac Herzog will consult party leaders on whom they want as prime minister and then tap the candidate he believes has the best chance of forming a government.
That nominee has up to 42 days to form a government.
No single party in Israel has ever won an outright majority, so governments are formed by a coalition of parties, and negotiations on forming a government often take weeks. Every Knesset seat counts and small parties can have a big impact by becoming kingmakers.
If the nominee fails, others can get a chance to try. If no government emerges, another election is called, with the present cabinet staying on as a caretaker government.
When will we know who won?
12:00 , James ReynoldsIsrael's Central Election Committee was tallying votes on Wednesday, and it will likely take until Thursday before definitive results of the election are known.
The committee will also tally hundreds of thousands of ballots by Israeli soldiers, as well as diplomats, who voted from outside the country.
The committee's tallying followed exit polls from major Israeli TV channels. Those polls can help give a general sense of each party’s relative strength but are not considered a reliable barometer of precise results, particularly in Israel’s fragmented political system.
The final vote tally is expected by October 30 and official election results are formally published a week after the election, on November 4.
NEW: Netanyahu at 54 seats; Eisenkot at 49
11:22 , James ReynoldsCurrent polling suggests Netanyahu’s bloc is on course to win 54 seats, while main challenger Gadi Eisenkot’s grouping would take 49.
Netanyahu’s dominant right-wing Likud party was on course to take 27, with Eisenkot’s centre-right Yashar on 22. Some 84.5% of ballot boxes had been counted by 12:34pm local time.
Likud joins a bloc of Otzma, UTJ, Shas and the Religious Zionism party.
The main anti-Netanyahu bloc around Eisenkot also has support from B’Yachad, Democrats and Beytenu.
In pictures: Scene on Wednesday after knifeman rushed guard at Israeli embassy in Serbia
11:20 , James Reynolds
Top story: Israel committed war crimes in occupied Palestinian territory, finds UN
10:40 , James ReynoldsIsrael has committed war crimes and crimes against humanities in Gaza and the West Bank, the UN said in a report published on the eve of the first Israeli elections since the October 7 terror attacks.
The UN commission of inquiry claimed Israel had committed the crimes against humanity of extermination, persecution, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
The report further accused Israel of “intentionally targeting Palestinian civilians” and continuing to commit “genocidal acts” even since the so-called ceasefire agreement in Gaza, with “the intent to destroy the Palestinian people, in whole or in part”.
Read the full story:
Israel committed war crimes in Occupied Palestinian Territories, UN report says
In full: Trump takes credit for Netanyahu's performance
10:00 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump on Wednesday leapt to take credit for Benjamin Netanyahu’s performance in the Israeli elections.
Writing on Truth Social he shared a quote attributed to somebody called Irving C. Schwartz.
Who won the Israel election? Live results as vote counts continue
09:52 , James ReynoldsResults are still pouring in from Israel’s election yet it remains unclear whether Gadi Eisenkot or Benjamin Netanyahu will lead the nation.
Israel's Central Elections Committee is continuing to tally votes, with expectations that definitive results won’t be drawn up until Thursday. With 66 per cent of the votes tallied, neither side appears on track to win an outright majority in the 120-seat Knesset, Israel’s parliament.
As exit polls came in, Netanyahu’s bloc was projected by all major news outlets to receive 51 seats - but in order to secure a majority and form a government in Israel, parties need at least 61 seats.
Who won the Israel election? Live results as vote counts continue
Netanyahu faces calls to quit as exit polls point to deadlock with Eisenkot bloc
09:20 , James ReynoldsBenjamin Netanyahu is under pressure to step aside as Israel’s prime minister after exit polls from Tuesday’s election foresaw a deadlock between rival blocs.
With two thirds of all votes tallied, Netanyahu’s grouping was set to win 56 of the 61 seats needed to form a majority in the Knesset, while his main challenger Gadi Eisenkot would take 48, according to Israeli media.
Both leaders offered competing claims to lead Israel as early results rolled in, with Netanyahu calling for a right-wing government and Eisenkot saying voters had rejected him.
“This morning the people of Israel went to a referendum on the leadership that will lead Israel in the coming years. Tonight we received an answer. The public decided in favour of change,” Eisenkot told party workers in Tel Aviv on Tuesday.
But Netanyahu, addressing a crowd in Jerusalem, said the election provided Israel a “historic opportunity” to eliminate the "Iranian threat" as he called for the formation of a "strong, right-wing" government.
Netanyahu narrowly leads count as Trump claims credit
08:40 , James ReynoldsBenjamin Netanyahu holds a narrow lead in the Israeli elections with more than two-thirds of all ballots counted, after Tuesday’s vote saw the highest voter turnout in over two decades.
The prime minister’s bloc was on course to win 56 seats, while his main rival Gadi Eisenkot’s grouping would win 48, based on partial results shared on Wednesday morning.
Those forecasts suggest neither would be able to form a majority in the 120-seat Knesset, leaving the door open to prolonged coalition negotiations.
Donald Trump nevertheless took credit for Netanyahu’s performance, sharing a statement attributed to “Irving C. Schwartz” that said the US president’s endorsement had “turned the tide”.
“When President Trump endorsed Bibi Netanyahu, the whole tide turned, and now, rather than a decisive defeat for a Great Prime Minister, it looks like a big come-from-behind stalemate, or even a WIN for Netanyahu,” the statement read.
NEW: Netanyahu bloc at 54 seats with 72% counted
08:23 , James ReynoldsThe pro-Netanyahu bloc is now at 54 seats with 72.4 per cent of the ballot boxes counted, as of 10:03am local time (8:03am UK). The Eisenkot-led bloc is on 48.
The latest: Netanyahu and Eisenkot offer competing claims with votes yet to be counted
08:00 , James ReynoldsIsrael’s long serving prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main rival Gadi Eisenkot offered competing claims to lead Israel after Tuesday's election, with votes yet to be counted.
With two thirds of all votes tallied, Netanyahu’s grouping was set to win 56 of the 61 seats needed to form a majority in the Knesset, while Eisenkot would take 48, according to Israeli media.
At present, that leaves both sides short of the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset, and neither Netanyahu nor Eisenkot claimed victory.
A deadlock could yet work in Netanyahu’s favour, leaving him in office as a caretaker prime minister during what are likely to be prolonged coalition negotiations or even until another election can be held.
Addressing party faithful at Likud election headquarters in Jerusalem, the prime minister called for the formation of “a strong, right-wing national government.”
But Eisenkot said the public had voted against Netanyahu and urged him to retire from politics, while warning against the use of Israel's security for political purposes.
“Netanyahu is a caretaker prime minister, without a mandate or the people's trust,” Eisenkot said, calling on the security establishment to “stand firm” against any attempt to put political interests ahead of Israel's security.
Highest voter turnout in over two decades
07:20 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarMore than 5.69 million voters, or 77.7 per cent of the eligible voters, cast their ballots on Tuesday, according to Israel's Central Elections Committee.
The turnout marks the highest in more than two decades and around 7 percentage points higher than in 2022.
Minor shouting 'Allahu Akbar' attacks guard outside Israeli embassy in Serbia
06:58 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarSerbian police said this morning an unidentified assailant attacked a guard with knives outside the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade and was killed just after midnight.
Interior minister Ivica Dacic said that police were treating the incident as a “terrorist attack” and had raised the terror threat to the highest level and stepped up police presence at key locations.
Dacic said that “a minor, so far unidentified … shouting Allahu Akbar, attacked the member of Gendarmerie and attacked him with two knives".He added that the police officer “liquidated” the assailant in “self-defence” and was lightly wounded.
Dacic said that Serbia’s security agencies had been monitoring the attacker, who he said was a supporter of the Islamic State group. Dacic said that “he kept the black flag in support of the Islamic State on his Instagram” account.
A reckoning is coming for Netanyahu – October 7 is why
06:50 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
A reckoning is coming for Netanyahu – October 7 is why
Politicians face harassment on election day
06:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarPoliticians faced harassment or attacks on election day as millions of people cast their ballots for the pivotal election in Israel.
Knesset candidate Yair Golan was accosted by a man with a knife, the leader of the main left-wing party said.
“Incitement and violence will not intimidate us,” Golan said in a statement and blamed the incident on the “poison machine” of Benjamin Netanyahu.
Two activists of his party were reportedly punched in the face.
Haredi group politician Moti Leitner said he was jeered by a crowd of men at a bus stop and another group approached his home and threatened his children.
Netanyahu's bloc leads with 55 seats after more than 50% of votes counted
06:20 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarBenjamin Netanyahu's bloc is currently leading on 55 out of the 120 seats in the Knesset after more than half of the ballots cast were counted.
The anti-Netanyahu bloc was trailing with 49 seats at 7.40am local time, according to the Central Elections Committee.
Netanyahu addresses party workers
06:15 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Highest voter turnout in over two decades
06:34 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarMore than 5.69 million voters, or 77.7 per cent of the eligible voters, cast their ballots on Tuesday, according to Israel's Central Elections Committee.
The turnout marks the highest in more than two decades and around 7 percentage points higher than in 2022.
How former army chief who lost son in Gaza became Bibi’s biggest threat
06:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarBenjamin Netanyahu has dominated Israeli politics for much of the last 30 years, but as the country goes to the polls in a pivotal election, the prime minister faces a challenger who in many ways could not be more different.
Former army chief Gadi Eisenkot is a straight talker, media-shy and a relative newcomer to Israeli politics. Yet opinion polls show his Yashar party leading Netanyahu's Likud as millions cast their vote to determine the country’s future.
Bibi is facing a reckoning in the first general election since the October 7 terror attacks and the years of devastating war that followed in Gaza.
More here.
The former army chief who lost son in Gaza and could now topple Netanyahu
Netanyahu's bloc takes lead after 42% of ballots counted
05:40 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarPartial results with nearly 42 per cent of ballots counted have put Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc in the lead with 57 seats.
The anti-Netanyahu bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot is trailing with 47 seats as of 5.58am local time, according to Times of Israel.
The Arab Joint List and Ra’am factions are holding the other 16 seats.
Trump credits himself for boosting Netanyahu's electoral chances
05:20 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarDonald Trump this morning shared a statement attributed to a man named Irving C Schwartz, which credits the US president with boosting Benjamin Netanyahu's election prospects.
“When President Trump endorsed Bibi Netanyahu, the whole tide turned, and now, rather than a decisive defeat for a great prime minister, it looks like a big come-from-behind stalemate, or even a WIN for Netanyahu," Trump's post on Truth Social read, attributing the words to Schwartz.
"It all took place AFTER the endorsement by President Trump, who only wants what is good for the Middle East, Israel, and the United States of America!"
It's unclear who Schwartz is, with searches for that name producing no obvious results for political commentators.
Over 1.6 million votes counted so far
05:10 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarMore than 1.6 million votes have been counted so far, according to Israel’s Central Elections Committee.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party remained in the lead with 22.24 per cent of the votes counted, while Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party trailed with 15.41 per cent of the votes.
More than 5.69 million voters or 77.7 per cent of the eligible voters cast their ballots on Tuesday, according to the elections committee.
Likud Party supporters wait for Netanyahu at the party's election-night event
04:50 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Exit polls show no clear winner in Israeli elections. What happens next?
04:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIsrael’s election has ended in a deadlock as no party is on track for majority of the Knesset, exit polls have suggested.
The stalemate comes after three years of war waged in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran, which have plunged the Middle East into turmoil.
The election is widely seen as a referendum on Benjamin Netanyahu, who is seeking another term after a combined 19 years in power.
More here.
Exit polls show no clear winner in Israeli elections. What happens next?
Eisenkot calls on Netanyahu to quit politics
04:05 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarGadi Eisenkot has claimed his bloc has "made history" and called on Benjamin Netanyahu to retire from politics, even as exit polls showed the two blocs neck and neck in the elections.
"This morning, the entire Israeli nation went out for a referendum. Tonight, we got an answer - the public has decided it wants change," Eisenkot told party workers in Tel Aviv.
He said Netanyahu's "fiasco" coalition has "lost their confidence".Eisenkot earlier warned Netanyahu not to use Israel's security for political purposes.
“Netanyahu is a caretaker prime minister, without a mandate or the people's trust,” Eisenkot said, calling on the security establishment to “stand firm” against any attempt to put political interests ahead of Israel's security.
Netanyahu says Israel has 'historic opportunity' to remove Iranian threat
03:45 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarBenjamin Netanyahu said Israel had a historic opportunity "to remove the Iranian threat", addressing a rally in Jerusalem in the early hours of Wednesday.
Iran is weaker than ever, Israel is stronger than ever," he said as exit polls predicted a deadlock in the Israeli election.
"Israel is facing a historic, one-time opportunity along with our friend president Trump to remove the Iranian threat once and for all," he added.
Ex-justice minister predicts Eisenkot will defeat Netanyahu
03:30 , Rachel DobkinFormer Israeli justice minister Yossi Beilin has predicted that prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be defeated by opponent Gadi Eisenkot.
“The main thing is that Netanyahu will not continue and be the Israeli prime minister”, he told Al Jazeera.
Israeli national security minister: ‘The night is still young’
03:15 , Rachel DobkinItamar Ben-Gvir, the far-right national security minister in Israel, said, “The night is still young” as exit polls suggest a deadlock with prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main opponent Gadi Eisenkot.
Ben-Gvirt told supporters at a gathering that he hoped his bloc, led by Netanyahu, “was close to forming a right-wing government”, per The New York Times.
Netanyahu calls for formation of 'strong, right-wing' government
03:14 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarBenjamin Netanyahu has called for the formation of “a strong, right-wing national government" after exit polls predicted a deadlock in Israel's election.
With actual votes trickling in, Kan 11 and Channel 13 exit polls had the blocs tied at 51-51, while Channel 12 gave Netanyahu's Likud-led bloc a narrow 52-49 edge.
None left either side with the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset.
Emotions run high among some voters
03:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainIn Kiryat Shmona, a Netanyahu stronghold near the border with Lebanon, one man kicked and tore down a poster of Eisenkot.
The election is Israel's first national vote since the Oct. 7 attack that sparked the war in Gaza and related conflicts.
In Tel Aviv, families of some killed on Oct. 7 or former hostages held a moment of silence.
“Remember all those whose voices are no more,” said Yona Adam, whose daughter Mapal Adam was killed.
Around 330,000 young Israelis, many facing compulsory military service under the shadow of war, are eligible to vote for the first time.
Eisenkot started the day by visiting communities attacked on Oct. 7.
“If someone in the government had a shred of responsibility, they would start the morning here” in the communities near Gaza, he said.
Standing in a cheering crowd, Eisenkot called on all Israelis to vote to get rid of “the worst government Israel has known.”
He noted that victory wasn’t certain, adding that “we are on perhaps the most critical day since the founding of the state.”
There were scattered allegations of irregularities and issues at polling stations, but Dean Livne, the acting director-general of the elections commission, said the number of complaints was so far much lower than in previous elections.
Watch: Netanyahu casts vote in Israel’s most important election in years
02:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainInside Ukraine’s underground mission trekking through miles of gas pipes to ambush Russian troops
17:53 , Bryony GoochUkrainian soldiers crept through underground gas pipelines to outflank the Russians in Kyiv’s latest plan to target Vladimir Putin’s forces.
President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed details of Operation Veles, conducted near Kupiansk, a city in the northeastern Kharkiv region recaptured by Ukrainian forces in late 2022, which has since remained under constant Russian pressure.
“It is a strong operation, well planned and technology-driven,” he said. “The Russians tried to use underground gas pipelines to advance past our positions. Our fighters turned this tactic against the Russians and used the underground infrastructure against the occupiers with extraordinary success.”
Read our full story below.
Israel election sees record voter turnout but polls suggest no clear winner
01:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainExit polls show Israel's election ended in an apparent deadlock, with neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor his main rival Gadi Eisenkot on track for a 61-seat majority.
The election served as the first opportunity for Israeli citizens to vote following the October 7 domestic security failure and subsequent conflicts with Hamas and Iran.
Israel election sees record voter turnout but polls suggest no clear winner
Israeli TV stations revise exit polls
00:38 , APThe polls published by the three major TV stations are now suggesting a slight increase in support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but still leaving him short of a governing majority.
The revised polls suggest that Netanyahu’s Likud Party will be the largest in parliament, with about 27 seats. But the broader bloc of parties led by Netanyahu and the bloc of parties led by his main rival, Gadi Eisenkot, each captured about 51 seats in parliament, the polls suggest. Initial exit polls had indicated Eisenkot’s bloc had a slight edge.
A candidate needs 61 parliamentary seats to form a majority coalition government.
Arab-led parties won the remaining 18 seats, the exit polls suggested.
If official results, expected in the coming days, reveal a similar breakdown, Israel could face weeks of uncertainty as parties jockey for power.
Eisenkot pleads for national unity
00:08 , APIn a speech early Wednesday, Gadi Eisenkot, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s main opponent, pledged to form a government and promised “a new era of hope” for Israelis.
“Today, Israel went out to a referendum over the leadership that will lead Israel in the coming years,” Eisenkot said to cheers from supporters. “The people decided in favor of change.”
He warned Netanyahu “not to use Israel’s security for your political needs” while he is a caretaker prime minister, an apparent reference to reports that the Israeli leader was considering an attack against Iran in the sensitive days leading up to the elections.
Israel increasingly isolated over Gaza and West Bank
00:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainIsrael has found itself increasingly isolated over its conduct in Gaza and the West Bank.
Public support among Americans has plummeted, and partners in Europe and elsewhere have slapped sanctions on Israel.
Netanyahu faces an international arrest warrant over alleged crimes against humanity in Gaza, allegations he denies.
Also hanging over the election were lingering tensions with Iran. Netanyahu ramped up threats ahead of the vote, warning Tehran it would face “a devastating blow” if it attacked Israel.
Netanyahu's supporters see him as a steady hand and a consummate statesman who has led Israel through a war of redemption after the country's darkest hour.
They think he is protecting Israel's security and Jewish identity in the face of international pressure and liberal elites at home.
His detractors see him as a polarising leader who, beset by an ongoing corruption trial, dragged out the war in Gaza and its hostage crisis for political reasons.
They say he is undermining Israel's independent judiciary and weakening its democratic underpinnings.
And they accuse him of abetting a system that has allowed ultra-Orthodox religious Jews to avoid military conscription.
Watch: Exit polls show deadlock with no party on track for majority
Tuesday 27 October 2026 23:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe man who could topple Netanyahu: How former army chief who lost son in Gaza became Bibi’s biggest threat
Tuesday 27 October 2026 22:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainFormer army chief Gadi Eisenkot is a straight talker, media-shy and a relative newcomer to Israeli politics.
He has emerged as a key challenger to Benjamin Netanyahu.
Read more here:
The former army chief who lost son in Gaza and could now topple Netanyahu
Exit polls show no clear winner in Israeli elections. What happens next?
Tuesday 27 October 2026 21:59 , Maryam Zakir-HussainIsrael’s election has ended in a deadlock as no party is on track for majority of the Knesset, exit polls have suggested.
The stalemate comes after three years of war waged in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran, which have plunged the Middle East into turmoil.
The election is widely seen as a referendum on Benjamin Netanyahu, who is seeking another term after a combined 19 years in power.
When will the Israel election results be announced and is there an exit poll?
Arab turnout has given their parties outsized influence
Tuesday 27 October 2026 21:15 , Maryam Zakir-HussainBenjamin Netanyahu had warned earlier that Arab parties that could make or break the election, saying they were receiving “truly massive support," and heading to the polls in "unprecedented numbers.”
In another sign of concern, Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party petitioned to extend voting hours past 10 p.m., but the election commission ruled against it, saying there was no justification.
Eisenkot had rejected the proposed extension and called on voters to ignore Netanyahu's “scare tactics.”
Israel's Arab-led parties could emerge as kingmakers — if other parties agree to join forces with them.
“Our vote will change the government,” said Mansour Abbas, head of the Islamist Ra’am party, while voting was still underway.
Arabs in Israel make up about 20% of the population.
Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, known for taunting Palestinian detainees and saying some Palestinians in Gaza are “not even people,” warned that “it will be Mansour Abbas’ government” if Netanyahu and his allies don’t win.
'Don't let anyone confuse you, this is a crushing defeat'- Yair Lapid
Tuesday 27 October 2026 21:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainCurrent opposition head Yair Lapid said in a statement: “Don’t let anyone confuse you: the Netanyahu bloc has suffered a crushing defeat. This is a total collapse and the public has told them to go home.”
Highest turnout in decades
Tuesday 27 October 2026 20:47 , Maryam Zakir-HussainMore than 74% of eligible voters had cast ballots by 8 pm, the highest turnout at that time in decades, and eight percentage points higher than in the last elections in 2022, according to the Central Elections Committee.
Over 7 million people are eligible to vote, and tens of thousands have reportedly arrived from overseas.
Israel’s president will be tasked with asking the party leader with the best prospect of forming a government, usually one with the most seats, to cobble together a coalition.
If none can, new elections could be held early next year.
Israel held five elections between April 2019 and November 2022 because of a similar stalemate.
Netanyahu challenger Eisenkot says exit polls signal "lack of confidence" in Netanyahu
Tuesday 27 October 2026 20:40 , Maryam Zakir-HussainGadi Eisenkot, leader of the opposition bloc’s Yashar party, said the projections indicate “a total lack of confidence in Netanyahu and the ‘October 7th government’”.
In pictures: Israelis react to live results from today's election
Tuesday 27 October 2026 20:36 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Lack of majority could work in Netanyahu's favour
Tuesday 27 October 2026 20:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe stalemate in today’s election could work in Benjamin Netanyahu's favour, allowing the prime minister to remain in power in a caretaker capacity while parties try to forge a governing coalition.
Final results could take days, and Israel's fragmented political system leaves smaller parties potential kingmakers.
No single party has ever won 61 seats outright in the 120-seat Knesset, making coalitions the norm.
