Israel Exit Polls Project No Bloc With a Majority

Exit polls from Israel’s major television networks projected no clear majority in the Knesset election, with Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc on 50 seats, the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot on 52 and Arab parties on 18. Neither major bloc is projected to reach the 61 seats needed to form a government in the 120-member parliament, leaving coalition negotiations uncertain until official results are published. The projections are preliminary, not final seat totals. A specific Channel 12 exit-poll projection put Likud, Netanyahu’s party, at 24 seats and Eisenkot’s Yashar party at 22. The broader network projections place Arab parties outside both blocs, with their potential role depending on whether other parties are willing to work with them. The Israel Central Elections Committee reported nationwide turnout of 31.5% by noon, compared with 28.4% at the same time in 2022. The figure covers the country as a whole and does not establish turnout among Arab voters. The committee’s timetable lists November 4 for publication of official results. After the final tally, President Isaac Herzog is expected to consult party leaders and designate the candidate he believes has the best chance...