Israeli Elections 2026: Netanyahu Leads Partial Count, No Majority Yet

Jerusalem, October 28, 2026: With a political crisis in store after the Israeli elections, Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition candidate Gadi Eisenkot are vying for the opportunity to be chosen to head the country’s next government. Exit polls showed an even fight, while partial counts gave Netanyahu the upper hand. But both sides do not have enough majority to form governments in the Knesset.

Israel’s election, which was conducted on October 27, is the first national poll after the attacks and wars that started from the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led assault.

Israel Election Results 2026: Who Is Leading?

Partial results announced on Wednesday morning indicated that Netanyahu’s bloc got around 55 seats compared to roughly 50 seats for the opposition bloc headed by Eisenkot. The remaining projected seats were held by Arab-led parties in the tally above. This is still subject to change as counting continues.

The Israeli elections exit polls indicated a much closer result, with some television stations predicting a tie between the two blocs. The exit polls are estimates of the final results.

In Israel’s 120-seat parliament, a simple majority of 61 seats is needed. This means that one would need more than just the largest party to determine who won the Israel election in 2026.

Netanyahu vs Gadi Eisenkot: What Happens Next?

Netanyahu, who heads the right-wing party Likud, wants to form a right-wing government, while Eisenkot, who has headed the Israeli Defense Forces and founded the Yashar party, claims that people need a change in politics.

Both factions will have a hard time persuading small parties to join their blocs. Arab-backed parties can become significant in the coalition-building process, but cooperation with them is politically risky.

The latest elections have also drawn the focus to the country’s security policy, the management of the events on October 7, and military service exemptions.

Israel Election Results Date 2026: When Will Results Be Final?

The tallying process is ongoing. The Israeli Central Elections Committee says that the results will be officially announced by November 4, 2026. Until that date, seat projections cannot be considered final.

Monitor official Israel election results website and Reuters’ Israel election news.

For broader regional information, see DemocraX coverage on the Strait of Hormuz and Iran, and increasing tensions in Saudi Arabia.

In conclusion, Netanyahu leads in the partial count, but the Israel election results are still in doubt. The formation of the new government will depend on coalition talks, not just on the seat numbers one side has won.

Updated October 28, 2026. Seat figures are provisional and may change as the official count progresses.

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