Eisenkot Bloc Leads in Israel Exit Polls, Leaving Netanyahu Without a Clear Path

Gadi Eisenkot’s opposition bloc secured a narrow lead over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s camp in Tuesday’s Israeli election, according to exit polls from two major television networks. A third network, Channel 13, reported the two sides tied at 51 seats each. No projection gave either side the 61 seats required for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset.

Voter turnout reached 77.7%, the highest level in more than two decades. This figure is approximately 7 percentage points higher than the 2022 election. The Central Elections Committee confirmed these numbers as polls closed.

Netanyahu’s coalition, which holds 68 seats in the outgoing parliament, faced a projected drop. Far-right religious parties led by Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich were projected to take a combined 13 seats within his bloc. Arab parties outside the two main camps could determine the balance of power, though Eisenkot has ruled out forming a government with them.

Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute, described the polls as a major defeat for Netanyahu’s coalition. He noted that the incumbent’s camp was projected far below its current seat count. Plesner cautioned that Eisenkot had not emerged as a clear winner and that results could shift as votes are counted.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid stated that the Netanyahu bloc suffered a crushing defeat. “This is a total collapse and the public has told them to go home,” Lapid said in a statement. Eisenkot, 66, entered politics four years ago and served in the war cabinet for eight months after the October 2023 Hamas attacks. He left the cabinet to criticize Netanyahu’s leadership.

The election was the first held since the October 7, 2023, attacks and the subsequent wars in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. More than 74,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza, according to health authorities. Eisenkot argues this response failed because Hamas remains in charge. He opposes Palestinian statehood but maintains that Hamas’ military wing must be dismantled.

Netanyahu, 77, has served as prime minister for nearly 19 of the past 30 years. He faces corruption charges and criticism over intelligence failures. He campaigned on an endorsement from US President Donald Trump. Arab candidates at the Joint List headquarters in Nazareth celebrated high voter participation, hoping to prevent Netanyahu’s far-right coalition from returning to power.