:NOW Last updated 2026-10-27 23:00 UTC. Official count started 22:23 UTC. Sources: Al Jazeera, France24, Times of Israel, JFeed, The Jewish Chronicle, Haaretz, Newsquawk, Israel Hayom. :INFO What the exit polls show Voting closed at 22:00 local time (20:00 UTC) on 27 October 2026. Three major Israeli broadcasters then released exit polls showing a narrow edge for the opposition bloc led by former army chief Gadi Eisenkot, but neither bloc reaching the 61 seats needed to form a government. Channels 11, 12 and 13 all put Eisenkot's bloc at 52 seats and Netanyahu's bloc at 50 seats. The pro-government Channel 14 was an outlier, putting the right-wing camp at 60 seats. Arab parties are projected to hold 18 seats, a record, with Joint List winning 11 and Ra'am 7. The official vote count began at 22:23 UTC on October 27. Channel 12 projected that President Isaac Herzog will task Eisenkot with forming the next government if the exit poll results hold. :COUNTER 120 Total seats in the Knesset (61 needed for a majority) :COUNTER 4 Israeli broadcasters released exit polls on election night :STATS [icon:CHART] Eisenkot bloc projected seats (Channels 11-13, aligned) | 52 [icon:CHART] Netanyahu bloc projected seats (Channels 11-13) | 50 [icon:CHART] Arab parties projected seats (record; Joint List 11, Ra'am 7) | 18 [icon:CHART] Likud projected seats (largest single party) | 24-25 [icon:CHART] Yashar (Eisenkot's party) projected seats | 21-23 [icon:CHART] Seats needed for governing majority | 61 [icon:USERS] Voter turnout final (highest since 1999) | 77.7% [icon:CLOCK] Polling stations closed | 22:00 local (20:00 UTC) [icon:CLOCK] Official results deadline | 4 November 2026 :INFO Channel-by-channel breakdown Channel 11 (Kan public broadcaster): Eisenkot bloc 52, Netanyahu bloc 50, Arab parties 18. Channel 12: Eisenkot bloc 52, Netanyahu bloc 50, Arab parties 18. Channel 13 (Reshet) updated poll: Eisenkot bloc 52 (-1), Netanyahu bloc 50, Arab parties 18 (+1). Channel 14 (pro-government private): Netanyahu bloc 60, Eisenkot bloc 43, Arab parties 17 (outlier). The three main public and commercial channels now align on the same figures. Exit polls have historically been close to final results in Israeli elections but are not definitive. More than 650,000 double-envelope ballots (soldiers and diplomats) require separate verification; counting could continue until Friday. Official results must be certified by 4 November. :QUOTE [links:https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/27/exit-polls-following-israeli-elections-indicate-no-clear-winner, quotetype:plain, subtitle:Gadi Eisenkot opposition leader] The initial exit poll results indicate a complete lack of confidence in Netanyahu and the October 7 government. If these results hold, it will be a victory for Israel's Zionist, pro-state majority. :INFO Why no majority is the key finding The exit polls show Eisenkot's bloc ahead but short of 61 seats. Channel 12 projected that President Isaac Herzog will task Eisenkot with forming the next government if the exit poll results hold. Eisenkot would have 28 days (extendable by 14) to negotiate a coalition. For a majority he would need support from Arab parties; several senior figures in his bloc have ruled that out. Netanyahu's Likud remains the largest single party with 24-25 seats and can try to stay in power as caretaker while talks proceed. The stalemate leaves open the possibility of a unity or minority government, a prolonged negotiation, or another election if no coalition can be formed. :INFO Who is Gadi Eisenkot Eisenkot, 66, is a former chief of staff of the Israel Defence Forces who lost a son and two nephews in combat during the Gaza war. He leads the Yashar party and ran on a platform of security credibility combined with judicial independence and a push for a hostage deal. He is regarded as a centrist on domestic issues and a hawk on security. He served as IDF chief from 2015 to 2019. :TIMELINE Israel Election 2026: key moments 2023-10-07 | Hamas attacks on Israel trigger war in Gaza; Netanyahu's governing coalition remains in place through the conflict. 2026-08-01 | Netanyahu dissolves the Knesset and sets an election date after coalition partners withdraw support. 2026-10-27 | Voting day: turnout reaches 74.3% by 8 pm, the highest at that hour since 1988. All polling stations close; Central Elections Committee confirms polls shut. Channels 11, 12 and 13 release exit polls showing Eisenkot bloc 52-53, Netanyahu bloc 50; Arab parties at record 18 seats. Official ballot count starts (Central Elections Committee). 2026-10-28 | Preliminary results expected from the Central Elections Committee. 2026-10-31 | Counting of double-envelope ballots expected to be complete. 2026-11-04 | Official certified results due (statutory 8-day deadline). President Herzog to consult all parties and task a leader to form a government (28-day window, extendable by 14 days). :MAP 31.7767,35.2345,Jerusalem. Location of the Knesset, Israel's 120-seat parliament :QUOTE [links:https://www.jfeed.com/news/israel-exit-polls-no-majority-netanyahu-eisenkot, quotetype:plain, subtitle:Central Elections Committee statement] All polling stations in the elections to the 26th Knesset have closed. Results will be published progressively. Figures published during the count are partial and subject to change. :CHECKLIST What to watch next [ ] - Now: Official ballot count underway; first real results expected overnight. [ ] - 2026-10-28: Preliminary vote counts from the Central Elections Committee. [ ] - 2026-10-31: Double-envelope ballots verified and counted, refining party seat totals. [ ] - 2026-11-04: Official certified results published. [ ] - After results: President Isaac Herzog consults all Knesset parties; expected to task Eisenkot first with forming a government (28-day deadline, extendable by 14 days). [ ] - Ongoing: Whether Eisenkot can assemble a 61-seat majority without Arab party support. [ ] - Ongoing: Whether Netanyahu pursues a unity government to avoid opposition. :LINK https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/27/exit-polls-following-israeli-elections-indicate-no-clear-winner Al Jazeera: Exit polls following Israeli elections indicate no clear winner :LINK https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20261027-live-polls-open-in-first-israeli-election-since-october-7-attack France24: Israeli exit polls show narrow edge for opposition but no clear majority :LINK https://www.nbcnews.com/world/israel/live-blog/israel-election-live-updates-netanyahu-eisenkot-voters-war-iran-gaza-rcna604979 NBC News: Netanyahu bloc on track for 50 seats, rival bloc 52 in exit poll :LINK https://www.axios.com/2026/10/27/netanyahu-eisenkot-israel-election-exit-polls Axios: Netanyahu bloc loses but Eisenkot short of clear majority :LINK https://www.jfeed.com/news/israel-exit-polls-no-majority-netanyahu-eisenkot JFeed: Israel exit polls - neither bloc reaches 61-seat majority :LINK https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/exit-polls-indicate-no-clear-winner-in-israeli-election PBS NewsHour: Exit polls indicate no clear winner in Israeli election :LINK https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-october-27-2026/ Times of Israel: Exit polls live blog - updated channel-by-channel projections :LINK https://www.thejc.com/news/israel/israel-elections-2026-live-results-um05revx The Jewish Chronicle: Official count begins, Likud projected largest party :NOTE How we know this. Exit poll projections: Channels 11, 12 and 13 as reported by Al Jazeera (20:18 UTC), France24 (20:16 UTC), Times of Israel, Newsquawk, Israel Hayom. Channel 13 updated exit poll (Arab parties to 18, opposition to 52): Times of Israel live blog. Official count start time (22:23 UTC): The Jewish Chronicle live results. Final turnout 77.7%: France24 (22:58 UTC) and Israel Hayom. Herzog expected to task Eisenkot: Channel 12, reported by Times of Israel and Haaretz. Arab Bloc celebr