Published on •Updated
Exit polls in Israel’s key legislative election on Tuesday suggested no clear victor, with both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and main rival Gadi Eisenkot falling short of a majority.
Israel’s Channel 13 news projected the opposition bloc would have the edge with 53 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, with Netanyahu’s bloc set to win around 50. His Likud party would be the largest single party, with 25 seats, however. Channel 12, another major pollster, put the Eisenkot bloc at 52 seats and Netanyahu’s at 50.
Arab parties are projected to win a record 17 or 18 seats, according to the outlets.
Turnout for the election – Israel’s first since Hamas’ 7 October 2023 attacks – hit over 74%, according to Israel’s Central Elections Committee.
Netanyahu has spent much of the day calling on supporters to get out and vote, painting the election as a “matter of life and death.”
The vote is widely seen as a referendum on Netanyahu’s leadership.
This is a developing story. Check back here for further details.