Full Breakdown
Netanyahu and Eisenkot Clash Over Israel’s Post-Election Future
By Drooid · · How we work
In this breakdown
01
Election Deadlock and Immediate Claims
On October 27 2026 Israel held a national election that produced no clear governing majority. Exit polls released that night showed the blocs led by incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and challenger Gadi Eisenkot deadlocked, each falling short of the 61 seats required in the 120-seat Knesset. Reuters’ exit-poll aggregation gave the blocs a tie of 51-51, while Channel 12 projected a 52-49 edge for Netanyahu’s bloc. The Central Elections Committee reported a voter turnout of 77.7 percent, the highest in more than two decades. Both leaders pledged to form a government while acknowledging the caretaker status of the incumbent administration.
02
Background: War After Oct 7 2023 and Political Landscape
The election was the first since the October 7 2023 Hamas attack that triggered a war in Gaza, which the Gaza health ministry says has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians. Netanyahu, who has served as prime minister for 77 years across 19 of the past 30, faces an ICC arrest warrant and ongoing corruption investigations. Eisenkot, a former military chief who entered politics in 2022, lost a son and two nephews in the Gaza war and positioned himself as a security-savvy centrist.
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03
Coalition Arithmetic and Potential Kingmakers
- Netanyahu’s bloc – projected 54 seats (Likud 24-25, far-right religious parties 13).
- Eisenkot’s bloc – projected 47 seats (Yashar, B’Yachad, Yisrael Beytenu, Democrats).
- Arab parties – expected 17-18 seats, enough to tip the balance but both blocs have ruled out formal coalitions with them.
- Ultra-Orthodox parties – projected 12 seats, a possible source of a majority if Eisenkot can secure their support.
Because no single configuration satisfies the public commitments of the major blocs, the deadlock could extend coalition talks for weeks or trigger a second election.
04
Official Statements & Responses
Netanyahu addressed Likud supporters at 3 a.m. on election night, calling for “a strong, right-wing national government” and emphasizing recent Israeli military successes. He also invoked a joint effort with U.S. President Donald Trump to eliminate Iran’s perceived threat. Trump, speaking in Texas, said his endorsement had helped Netanyahu and described the close result as a “big chess match.”
Far-right leader Itamar Ben-Gvir warned that a unity government with Eisenkot would be “a terrible mistake,” underscoring intra-right tension over any compromise.
05
Criticism & Opposition
Eisenkot’s call for the security establishment to “stand firm” directly challenges Netanyahu’s use of security narratives for political gain. Arab-party candidate Faten Gattas of the Joint List condemned “occupation and racism,” reflecting the heightened Arab turnout that helped deny Netanyahu a majority.
06
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Exit-poll figures vary across outlets: Reuters reported a 51-51 tie, Channel 12 gave Netanyahu a 52-49 lead, and Channel 14 presented a more favorable Likud projection. The final seat distribution remains unknown until the full count, expected Thursday or Friday. While Arab parties are projected to hold 17-18 seats, their willingness to join a coalition is unclear, leaving a key gap in coalition calculations.
07
What’s Next
Final results are slated for release on Thursday or Friday 2026. If no bloc can assemble a governing majority, Israel may face another election, a scenario Eisenkot has publicly opposed given the historic turnout. Coalition negotiations will focus on whether the ultra-Orthodox or Arab parties can be incorporated without breaching the blocs’ public commitments, and whether Netanyahu will retain a caretaker role while talks continue.