Israel votes: final polls show neither Netanyahu’s bloc nor Eisenkot’s opposition assured of a majority

Israelis voted on 27 October in a general election for the 120-seat Knesset, the first since the Gaza war began in October 2023, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud-led bloc facing a challenge from an opposition led by former army chief Gadi Eisenkot. Polling stations began opening in the morning, and by 8:00 the Central Elections Committee said more than 95 percent had reported opening, according to The Times of Israel’s live coverage.

How the vote works

About 7.3 million Israelis are eligible to vote, The Times of Israel reported. Voters choose a party list, with the whole country forming a single constituency. Most polling stations open at 7:00 and close at 22:00 local time, voting is on paper ballots, and exit polls are published when the stations close. A party needs at least 3.25 percent of valid votes, about four seats, to enter the Knesset. A government normally needs 61 of the 120 seats.

What the final polls showed

The Times of Israel’s pre-election guide said the final polls projected 50 to 51 seats for Netanyahu’s bloc and 52 to 56 for the four Jewish-led opposition parties, with the Arab-led Ra’am and Joint List projected at 14 to 16 seats combined. Channel 14 was the exception, projecting a majority for the current government. The paper said neither bloc was assured of a majority, and that small parties, among them People of Israel, Reservists and Charedi Public, were struggling to clear the threshold. Al Jazeera described the vote as “widely billed as the most consequential in Israel’s history”.

Who voted and what they said

President Isaac Herzog voted in Jerusalem and, in the live blog’s words, said of the election: “No one can be allowed to spoil or undermine it.” Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats, said at his polling station in Rosh Ha’ayin: “Today, we are saving Israel.” Naftali Bennett (B’Yachad), Avigdor Liberman (Yisrael Beytenu), Bezalel Smotrich (Religious Zionism), Itamar Ben Gvir (Otzma Yehudit) and Shas leader Aryeh Deri were also reported to have voted. Eisenkot began the day in Nir Oz and visited a polling station in Ofakim.

Two incidents were reported on election day. Police are investigating after a billboard of Eisenkot’s Yashar party was set on fire at the entrance to Dimona overnight, and the Charedi Public party said its stalls outside polling stations in Bnei Brak, Beit Shemesh and Beitar Illit were wrecked, filing a complaint with the Central Elections Committee and police.

What happens next

Official results are due on 4 November, and parties can appeal until 18 November, The Times of Israel reported. President Herzog then consults party leaders and tasks the candidate most likely to form a government, who has 28 days and a possible 14-day extension. The paper listed the possible outcomes as a clear majority, a minority government, repeat elections with Netanyahu staying on as caretaker, or a unity government, which Eisenkot has ruled out.

Background

The campaign has been closely tied to the region’s security picture. Geopolitiki reported that Trump gives Netanyahu “Complete and Total” support nine days before Israel’s election – “There has never been a greater friend of Israel in the White House”, and that Israel: Benny Gantz withdraws from the election eight days before the vote – “I will keep fighting for unity”.

Sources read: The Times of Israel live blog, 27 October 2026, and its election guide; Al Jazeera’s live coverage of 27 October 2026. Results were not available when this article was written.