Netanyahu and Eisenkot Blocs Tied in Revised Israeli Election Exit Polls

Revised exit polls place the political blocs of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot at an even 51 seats each.

The updated figures from major Israeli television networks arrived after earlier reports suggested Eisenkot held a slight lead in the number of parliamentary seats.

Neither grouping has reached the 61 seats required to form a majority coalition in the Knesset. This deadlock forces both leaders into complex negotiations with smaller parties.

Projections indicate that Palestinian parties may secure up to 18 seats, a jump from their previous total of 10. If Eisenkot cannot assemble a majority with traditional allies, experts say he may need to negotiate with the Joint List and Ra'am. Such a process could take several weeks. Alternatively, a minority government might rely on informal vote-by-vote agreements to pass legislation.

Netanyahu addressed supporters at a rally in Jerusalem shortly after 3:00 a.m. Tuesday. He claimed that official results would confirm Likud as the largest party in the country. Netanyahu argued that Israel must establish a strong, right-wing national government. He stated that a government relying on the support of Palestinian parties must not be formed.

Eisenkot spoke to a crowd in Tel Aviv later in the morning. He said the Israeli public voted against Netanyahu’s service as prime minister. Eisenkot argued that a worthy leader would have accepted the people’s non-confidence and announced his retirement from politics. He also warned Netanyahu not to use Israel’s security for political ends. That comment referred to fears that the prime minister might launch a new attack on Iran during the period of uncertainty.

The Central Elections Committee rejected a last-minute effort by Netanyahu and other parties to keep polling stations open past the 10:00 p.m. deadline. Netanyahu suggested publicly that the left and Arab parties were working to steal the election. The committee said it saw no evidence of systematic tampering. With the exit polls showing a tight race and historical imprecision, the final tally will determine which side holds the stronger negotiating position.