Jerusalem, 27 October, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party emerged as the largest party in all five Israeli television exit polls, but none projected a clear parliamentary majority for either of the main political blocs. The polls also pointed to a strong showing by Arab parties, while several smaller parties remained close to the electoral threshold.

The Central Elections Committee changed voting procedures Tuesday afternoon to allow anyone who arrived at a polling station by 10 p.m. to cast a ballot, even if long lines kept them waiting beyond closing time. Turnout was elevated, with lengthy queues reported at polling stations across the country.

All five television exit polls — Kan 11, Keshet 12, Reshet 13, Channel 14 and i24 — projected Likud as the largest party, with between 24-30 seats in the 120-seat Knesset. Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar! was projected to finish second, with 19-23 seats, while Naftali Bennett’s Beyachad party was projected to win 11-15 seats.

No Clear Majority

Despite Likud’s lead as the largest party, the exit polls offered no consistent path to a 61-seat majority

Channel 14 projected 60 seats for the right-wing bloc, 43 for the left-wing bloc and 17 for the Arab parties. Channel 12 put Eisenkot’s bloc at 52 seats and Netanyahu’s at 50, with Arab parties projected to win 18. Kan 11 and Channel 13 each projected 50 seats for Netanyahu’s bloc, while i24 put it at 55.

Under the projections, neither bloc would reach a majority without some form of support from Arab parties, whose role in any government-formation effort could prove decisive.

The exit polls projected the Arab parties to win a combined 16-18 seats. Kan 11 and Channel 13 each gave the Joint List, led by Youssef Jabarin, 10 seats and Ra’am seven. i24 projected nine seats for the Joint List and seven for Ra’am.

The projections came amid reports of strong turnout in Arab communities.

Yair Golan’s Democrats, a major party of the Jewish left, was projected to win 9-10 seats.

Turnout reports earlier in the day suggested weaker participation among the Orthodox (Haredi) voters. Exit polls projected Shas and United Torah Judaism to win between 6-8 seats each.

Avigdor Liberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu faced a more uncertain outlook. Kan 11 projected eight seats, Channel 13 seven and i24 five, while Channel 14 put the party at four — close to the 3.25% electoral threshold required to enter the Knesset.

Otzma Yehudit was projected to win 6-7 seats; Religious Zionism-Zehut was projected to win six seats in the Kan 11 and i24 polls.