Exit polls trigger heated debate across Israeli political divide

What the report says

Israeli political leaders responded sharply to exit poll projections from the October 27 election, with updated figures from Channel 13 suggesting no decisive winner between the main blocs. The projections put Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud-led camp and the opposition bloc led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot on 51 seats each in the 120-member Knesset, leaving both short of the 61 needed to govern outright. Al Jazeera reported that turnout reached 77.7 percent, according to the Central Elections Committee.

Opposition figures quickly framed the result as a setback for Netanyahu. Eisenkot told supporters that the early projections showed a lack of confidence in what he called the “October 7 government,” while Yair Lapid said the Netanyahu bloc had suffered a defeat. Supporters at Eisenkot’s headquarters in Tel Aviv reacted positively to the projections, even though the figures were still preliminary.

Netanyahu allies urged caution, arguing that the final outcome could still change. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said opposition claims were too early and noted that Likud remained the largest single party. Arab parties also highlighted their potential influence, with Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas pointing to the mandate received by his bloc, and Joint List candidate Faten Gattas saying high Arab turnout was aimed at blocking Netanyahu’s return. The report suggests smaller parties may be pivotal in coalition talks in the days ahead.