Israel's October 27 vote closed with every major exit poll naming Likud the largest party. Channel 12 gave Likud 24 seats; Channel 13's update gave it 27. Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party landed between 20 and 23. Most pre-election surveys had Eisenkot ahead. Neither bloc reaches 61 of the Knesset's 120 seats, and official counting continues.
1
Blocs in a dead heat
Channel 12 projected 50 seats for Netanyahu's bloc against 52 for the opposition. Channel 13 opened at 50-53, then updated to a 51-51 tie. Channel 14 gave the right 60 seats, one short of a majority. Every gap sits inside exit-poll error.
2
Record Arab-party showing
The two Arab-majority parties are projected at 16-18 seats, nearly double the outgoing Knesset's 10. Those seats do not join any Jewish-led coalition, so the opposition still lacks a governing path. Naftali Bennett's B'Yachad is projected at 12-15.
3
Next: the presidential mandate
The largest party usually gets the first presidential mandate, with 28 days to form a government. Eisenkot said these are only exit polls and urged waiting for results. Netanyahu touted Trump's endorsement on the eve of the vote and suggested the two could restart the Iran campaign.
Written off before the vote, Likud finished first. Netanyahu still moves first in coalition talks.
Key FAQ
Q1: Which party leads the exit polls?
Likud leads in every major poll: 24 seats on Channel 12 and 27 in Channel 13's update, with Eisenkot's Yashar at 20-23.
Q2: Did either bloc win a majority?
No. A majority takes 61 of 120 seats. Channel 13's update shows a 51-51 tie; Channel 12 has 50-52.
Q3: What happens next?
The largest party usually gets the first mandate, with 28 days to build a coalition. Arab parties, projected at 16-18 seats, do not join Jewish-led coalitions.
Sources
- ✓ Times of Israel — Channel 12 exit poll shows no clear victor: Likud is largest party but opponents have bigger bloc — 2026-10-27
- ✓ Times of Israel — Channel 13 exit poll: Eisenkot-led bloc in lead, Likud largest party, record Arab showing — 2026-10-27
- ✓ i24NEWS — Exit Poll: Likud wins 27 seats, Yashar 20 — 2026-10-27
- ✓ PBS NewsHour — No clear winner in Israeli election, exit polls indicate — 2026-10-27
- ✓ Reuters via Hawaii Tribune-Herald — Netanyahu touts Trump endorsement on eve of vote — 2026-10-27
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