Israel Election Exit Polls 2026: Netanyahu ahead, but can he secure majority? What we know about results, largest party

An updated Israel Election Exit poll revealed a dramatic reversal in trends. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition, which was trailing by a few points earlier, took the lead over the Opposition bloc with 52 seats. However, the exit polls showed no clear path to a majority for either coalition.

Here's what we know about the Israel Election Results:

Exit polls projected pro- and anti-Netanyahu blocs neck-and-neck, with the two Arab parties holding the balance. Neither bloc is projected to win a 61-seat Knesset majority.

A party or a coalition needs to win at least 62 of 120 seats in Knesset to form a majority government in Israel. Here's what different exit polls revealed:

Quick answers to key questions

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QUESTIONS

Channel 12’s updated exit poll put Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc ahead with 52 seats, compared with 49 for the opposition bloc. Kan 11 projected the two blocs tied at 51 seats each.

Likud was projected to be the largest party, with 27 seats in Channel 12’s exit poll. Yashar followed with 21 seats.

The exit polls did not project either bloc to win a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. Forming a government depends on whether parties can secure enough seats together and agree on a coalition.

Channel 12 projected 52 seats for Netanyahu’s bloc, Kan 11 projected 51, Pollster Direct projected 55, and Channel 14 projected 60. These were exit poll estimates, not confirmed results.

Yes. Israel’s coalition-based parliamentary system means the party with the most seats does not automatically form the government. A party may govern if it can build a coalition with enough parliamentary support.

In its updated exit poll, Channel 12 gave the pro-Netanyahu bloc 52 seats and the anti-Netanyahu bloc 49, compared with 50 and 52 in its previous poll, The Times of Israel reported.

The predominantly Arab Joint List and Ra’am parties held the other 19 seats.

What changed from previous exit poll results?

Channel 12 exit polls: Yashar 21 (from 22), Likud 27 (from 24), Yisrael Beytenu 7 (from 8), Joint List 12 (from 11), Shas 7 (from 8), The Democrats 9 (from 10).

Kan 11 exit polls

Meanwhile, Kan 11, in its updated exit poll, gave the pro-Netanyahu bloc and anti-Netanyahu bloc 51 seats each, compared with 50 and 52 in its previous poll at 11:04 p.m.

What changed from previous exit poll results?

Kan 11: Likud 27 (from 25), The Democrats 9 (from 10), Otzma Yehudit 6 (from 7).

Pollster Direct Exit Polls

Pollster Direct Polls projected 55 seats for the Netanyahu bloc , 49 for the Gadi Eisenkot-led opposition bloc and 16 for the Arab parties.

Channel14 exit polls

Another poll from agency Filber and presented by the pro-government Channel 14 projected 60 seats for the Netanyahu bloc, 43 for the opposition and 17 for the Arab parties.

According to Channel 14, opposition Zionist parties opposed to Netanyahu have 43 seats between them, while the majority Arab parties hold the remaining 17 seats.

Largest party

Netanyahu's Likud emerged as the biggest party with a lead on 27 seats, as per the Channel 12 exit poll. It was followed by Yashar with21 seats, B'Yachad and Joint List with 12 seats each.

Record voting

Voting in October 27 Israel elections, the first since the Hamas attack that led to the Gaza war on October 2, 2023, saw near-final election turnout at 77.7 per cent, the highest since 1999.

Eisenkot urges Netanyahu to step down

Yashar chairman Gadi Eisenkot reportedly called on Netanyahu to “accept the people’s vote of no confidence” and leave political life, adding that “with turnout this high, holding another election would be a mistake.”

“I will do everything in my power to form a Zionist government that serves all,” he was quoted by the Times of Israel as saying.

He described the envisioned coalition as committed to “universal military service” and “dismantling Hamas,” and says it must “respect and see all parts of society.”

Israel Elections: Key political parties in the race:

There are two main blocs fighting to form government in the country.

The first is the pro-Netanyahu coalition, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party and joined by several far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties.

These include United Torah Judaism (UTJ) and Shas – both conservative religious parties – and Otzma Yehudi and Religious Zionism-Zehut, led respectively by far-right ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.

The main opposition coalition comprises four Jewish-led opposition movements: the Yashar party, the Democrats, The Yisrael Beiteinu party and the Together alliance.

The general election, the first to be held since the Hamas-led massacre of October 7, 2023, unfolded amid deep national divisions over security accountability, state leadership and the independence of Israel’s democratic institutions.

Prime Minister Netanyahu, who has remained at the centre of power for 19 years, faced a formidable challenge from former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot and his Yashar Party, which led in various opinion surveys ahead of the vote.

About the Author

Akriti Anand is a Deputy Chief Content Producer at LiveMint. She is a digital journalist with more than six years in the news industry.<br><br> In her current role, she covers both national and international politics, and also keeps a close watch on the latest trends in science and space exploration. <br><br> Akriti joined the LiveMint team in October 2023. Before this, she built a strong career at other major media houses. She worked as a senior sub-editor at India Today. Later, she moved to CNBCTV-18. There, she covered high-pressure topics like breaking news and major elections. She spent much of her time analysing Parliament bills and complex political debates. She is also a skilled editor who knows how to polish a story for a digital audience. <br><br> One of her career highlights happened at CNBCTV-18. She made her first television debut during the Chandrayaan-3 mission. She also provided special on-air coverage for the Karnataka Elections. <br><br> When she is not busy with breaking news, Akriti loves to write explainers and interview experts on a wide range of issues. She also enjoys making complex space missions easy for everyone to understand. <br><br> Her education helps her tackle these diverse subjects. She holds a BA in English Literature, a Postgraduate Diploma in Mass Communication, and a Master’s degree in Development Studies. She is currently expanding her knowledge in climate journalism.<br><br> Connect with Akriti here<br> LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/akriti-anand-868285199">https://www.linkedin.com/in/akriti-anand-868285199</a><br> Twitter/X: <a href="https://x.com/AkritiAnand7">https://x.com/AkritiAnand7</a><br> Email: akriti.anand@htdigital.in