2026 Israeli Election Results Show No Clear Majority

On October 28, 2026, exit-poll data released by Israel’s Channel 12 indicated that neither Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc nor the coalition of Zionist parties seeking his removal secured enough seats to form a governing majority in the 120-member Knesset. The poll projected the opposition bloc at 52 seats, Netanyahu’s bloc at 50 seats, and Arab parties at 18 seats, short of the 61 seats required for a majority. The figures suggest a likely period of intensive coalition negotiations or the possibility of a minority government.

The Sydney Morning Herald

The election is the first national vote since the October 7, 2023 massacre, an event that reshaped Israel’s security discourse and political alignments. In the 2022 election, Netanyahu’s Likud secured 64 seats; the current poll reflects a decline of 14 seats for his bloc. The Arab-Israeli electorate turned out in larger numbers, boosting the two Arab party lists from 10 seats in 2022 to an estimated 17-18 seats this cycle.

The Sydney Morning Herald

• Opposition Zionist bloc: 52 seats (Channel 12 exit poll)

The Sydney Morning Herald

• Netanyahu’s Likud bloc: 50 seats (Channel 12 exit poll)

The Sydney Morning Herald

• Arab party lists: 18 seats, up from 10 seats in 2022 (Channel 12 exit poll)

The Sydney Morning Herald

• Required majority: 61 seats

The Sydney Morning Herald

The surge in Arab-Israeli voter participation is a key factor in the tighter overall balance.

The Sydney Morning Herald

Gadi Eisenkot, former military chief and the leading opposition candidate, said he would move swiftly to replace Netanyahu’s government and establish a Zionist administration that prioritises military conscription.

The Sydney Morning Herald

• “The initial exit poll results indicate a total vote of no confidence in Netanyahu and his October 7 government by the Zionist majority and the majority of Israel’s citizens,” — Gadi Eisenkot

The Sydney Morning Herald