Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party is leading with roughly 50% of polling stations counted in Israel, though securing a governing majority remains an open question. The outgoing prime minister’s party has garnered 20.81% of the vote, followed by Yashar, the party led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, at 17.06%. These are partial results, and the final distribution of seats has yet to be determined.
Channel 12’s exit polls point to a contest with no outright winner capable of governing alone. Likud is projected to win 24 seats, against 22 for Yashar. When the rival blocs are compared, however, Eisenkot’s camp comes out ahead with 52 seats, while Netanyahu’s trails at 50. Neither side reaches the threshold needed for a majority.
Netanyahu nonetheless claimed the result as a success and already pointed to the path forward for the next government: “Likud is the largest party in Israel, and the coalition has a majority. That is why we must form a broad national right-wing government and do everything possible to prevent a government backed by Arab parties from being formed.”
The majority the prime minister announced has not yet been confirmed by the exit poll figures. The count still needs to establish the definitive balance of power among the parties and, crucially, which alliances will be able to support a government.
Donald Trump also weighed in on the vote, crediting his own backing with playing a role in Netanyahu’s showing: “With my endorsement, Bibi has gone from defeat to what could even be victory.”
