Israeli opposition leads Netanyahu after inconclusive vote

Former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, reacts to the exit poll at his party headquarters, on the evening of Israel's national election, in Tel Aviv, on Wednesday. | REUTERS

Bloomberg

Oct 28, 2026

Israeli opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot edged slightly ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a fiercely contested first election since the October 2023 attacks, setting up a tense period of negotiations over who will form the next government.

Eisenkot’s bloc is on track to secure 52 of Israel’s 120 parliamentary seats, according to three exit polls published after voting closed at 10 p.m. local time on Tuesday, ahead of 50 for Netanyahu’s religious rightwing alliance.

That would leave both contenders well short of a majority needed to become the country’s next leader, but potentially put Eisenkot in the driver’s seat when it comes to forming a ruling coalition. Votes are still being counted, however, and the final picture could yet change. Further complicating matters, Netanyahu’s Likud looks set to be the biggest single party with 24-25 seats, versus 21-23 for Eisenkot’s Yashar.

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