A tight race: Who will assume the role of Prime Minister of Israel?

Updated exit poll results published in Israel following the Knesset elections show that the opposition bloc, led by former Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, is no longer in the lead but is tied with Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies. According to projections, both blocs are expected to secure 51 seats each.

Initial exit polls had indicated that the opposition bloc led by former Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot would win 52–53 seats in the Knesset, while Netanyahu and his allies would secure approximately 50 seats, including 24–25 seats for his Likud party.

However, the updated exit polls show a dead heat between the Netanyahu and Eisenkot blocs.

As vote counting results slowly trickled in from Kan 11 and Channel 13, it became clear that neither side had reached the 61-seat threshold required for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. Consequently, neither Netanyahu nor Eisenkot has declared victory.

Thirty-seven parties competed for the 120 Knesset seats. Historically, no single political force has ever won an absolute majority (at least 61 seats) in the parliament, which is why all Israeli governments have been coalitions.

Following the release of the initial exit polls, Gadi Eisenkot stated that the results showed "a complete vote of no confidence in Netanyahu and his government." He emphasized that if these projections were confirmed, the opposition would "act immediately to carry out the will of the people and replace Netanyahu's government."