Israel Election Results: Netanyahu Bloc Leads as Count Continues

Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing and religious bloc has pulled ahead in the vote count from Israel’s 27 October Knesset election, reversing exit polls that had favoured Gadi Eisenkot’s opposition camp, but with roughly two-thirds to three-quarters of ballots counted on Wednesday morning neither side had a clear path to the 61 seats needed to govern. The final picture may still shift, because soldiers’ and other “double envelope” ballots are counted last and official results are not due until 4 November.

Our pre-election explainer set out the stakes of the vote. This follow-up covers the exit polls, the count so far and what happens next.

What Did the Exit Polls Say?

When polls closed at 22:00 local time on Tuesday, the main broadcasters’ exit polls pointed to a narrow lead for the opposition. Kan and Channel 13 both projected Eisenkot’s camp on about 53 seats to 50 for Netanyahu’s bloc, and Channel 12 put it at 52 to 50, according to Anadolu Agency and Ynet. Channel 13 later revised its projection to a 51–51 tie, with Arab-led parties on 18 seats.

Those numbers did not survive contact with the real count. As tallies came in overnight, Likud and its allies moved into the lead, a pattern Israeli commentators said echoed earlier elections where exit polls underestimated the right.

What Does the Count Show So Far?

With about 66.3% of votes counted (3.76 million valid ballots), a tally published by the Israel Elections tracker at 10:07 Israel time on Wednesday gave Netanyahu’s bloc about 55 seats, the Zionist opposition about 47 and Arab-led lists about 18. Anadolu Agency reported a similar split of 56 to 48 at 66% and 54 to 48 at around 72%. Seat projections at this stage were as follows:

• Likud (Benjamin Netanyahu): 28 seats, about 21% of the vote
• Yashar (Gadi Eisenkot): 21 seats
• Joint List: 12 seats
• Together (Naftali Bennett): 11 seats
• The Democrats (Yair Golan): 8 seats
• United Torah Judaism, Yisrael Beytenu, Otzma Yehudit and Shas: 7 seats each
• Religious Zionism and Ra’am: 6 seats each

These are partial figures and seat allocations can change as the remaining ballots are counted and as smaller parties cross or miss the 3.25% electoral threshold. Turnout was reported at 77.7%, the highest since 1999 and about seven points up on 2022.

What Have Netanyahu and Eisenkot Said?

Netanyahu did not claim outright victory in his election-night speech. Instead he called for a “strong government of the right”, saying the “Jewish and Zionist majority must unite”, and spoke about Iran and his relationship with US President Donald Trump, who later said his endorsement had helped.

Eisenkot, the former army chief who led the opposition campaign, struck a combative tone. He urged Netanyahu, whom he described as a caretaker prime minister, to step aside and warned him: “don’t you dare use Israel’s security for your political needs.” He also said it would be a mistake to send Israelis back to the polls for yet another election.

Could Arab Parties Decide the Outcome?

With neither Jewish-majority bloc near 61 on the current numbers, the 16 to 18 seats projected for Arab-led parties have become the central question. An Arab party leader told Anadolu that the aim was a 61-seat majority with the opposition, but both Netanyahu and Eisenkot have said they would not rely on Arab parties in a formal coalition, according to the Associated Press and the Financial Times. Ynet set out five possible scenarios, ranging from a narrow right-wing government if the final count lifts Netanyahu’s bloc to 61, to a minority government relying on outside support, to a national unity arrangement or a fresh election.

What Happens Next?

• Final count: Double-envelope ballots, including those cast by soldiers, are counted after regular ballots and can move one or two seats.
• Official results: The Central Elections Committee is expected to publish certified results on 4 November.
• Consultations: President Isaac Herzog will then consult every party before tasking a candidate with forming a government. Channel 12 reported that Herzog could turn to Eisenkot if the opposition and Arab parties together recommend him.
• Coalition talks: The nominee normally gets 28 days, which can be extended by up to 14 more.

The result matters well beyond Israel. Whoever forms the next government will shape Israel’s approach to Iran, the war’s aftermath in Gaza and regional tensions that include the Houthi missile attacks on Saudi Arabia and diplomacy such as Pakistan’s mediation between Washington and Tehran. We will update this story as the final results come in.

Featured image: Gadi Eisenkot by Yahav Trudler / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0; Benjamin Netanyahu by Avi Ohayon / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. File photos; composite licensed CC BY-SA.

Sources

• Israel Elections — Israel election results 2026 (28 October 2026).
• Anadolu Agency — Israeli opposition leader says Netanyahu’s political career is over (28 October 2026).
• Anadolu Agency — Morning Briefing: Oct. 28, 2026 (28 October 2026).
• Ynet News — Netanyahu, Eisenkot or another election? Five scenarios for Israel’s next government (28 October 2026).
• Ynet News — Netanyahu vs. Eisenkot: What Israel’s election exit polls mean (27 October 2026).
• AFP — Netanyahu and rival each claim mandate after tight Israel election (28 October 2026).
• The Jerusalem Post — With over 3 million votes counted, Benjamin Netanyahu pulls ahead of Gadi Eisenkot (28 October 2026).
• Associated Press — After election, Israel faces coalition-building as Netanyahu tries to stay on (28 October 2026).
• Xinhua — Daily World Briefing, Oct. 28 (28 October 2026).