UPDATED Oct 28, 2026 at 6:05 PM ET
Oct 25, 2026 at 1:07 PM ET
Updated Israeli exit polls projected Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc at 53 seats, short of the 61 needed for a Knesset majority, while Gadi Eisenkot’s opposition was projected to hold 49 seats and Arab parties 19. The opposition and Arab factions would total 68 seats but remain divided over forming a government together. Netanyahu said Likud had emerged as Israel’s largest party and called for a strong right-wing government.
WHO: Israeli exit pollsters; Benjamin Netanyahu
WHAT: Updated exit polls projected Netanyahu’s bloc short of a Knesset majority, and Netanyahu said Likud had emerged as the largest party.
WHEN: Reported Oct 27, 2026 at 4:10 PM ET
WHERE: Israel
WHY: No reason for the projected deadlock was reported; exit polls showed no bloc reaching a majority, while opposition and Arab factions remained divided over forming a government.
