Israeli election ends with no clear winner as Netanyahu and the opposition bloc are locked in a close contest

Summary

Israelis voted on October 27 in an election with strong turnout, and exit polls and early partial results show no clear winner. Reports differ on who leads. The New York Times said exit polls showed a bloc of opposition parties ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition, while Le Monde and Deutsche Welle described the two blocs as neck and neck or almost even. ABC reported that Netanyahu's bloc was likely to win more seats than the opposition, but still short of the majority needed to form a government. Fox News reported that with 70% of votes counted, Netanyahu's Likud was leading. The Sydney Morning Herald said Likud defied most pre-election polls to become Israel's biggest party, though his right-wing coalition is still short of a majority. The Hindu reported that with more than 85% of ballots counted, Netanyahu's bloc was slightly ahead but still short of a majority, and that the president urged against a new vote. CNBC reported that exit polls showed both Netanyahu's alliance and Gadi Eisenkot's opposition bloc well short of a governing majority, and that Israeli bonds and the shekel fell. Partial results are likely to change, Deutsche Welle said the final tally may take days, and the New York Times said forming a new government could take weeks or even months.

Timeline

1. New York Times

   27 Oct 2026, 23:03 UTCSource ↗

   The New York Times reported that exit polls showed a bloc of opposition parties leading Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition, and that forming a new government could take weeks or even months.

2. Le Monde

   28 Oct 2026, 01:47 UTCSource ↗

   Le Monde reported that several exit polls showed Netanyahu's bloc and Gadi Eisenkot's opposition bloc neck and neck, with neither securing a majority, and that the partial results are likely to change.

3. Deutsche Welle

   28 Oct 2026, 02:53 UTCSource ↗

   Deutsche Welle reported that partial results showed the pro-Netanyahu and anti-Netanyahu blocs almost even, and that the final tally may take days.

4. ABC

   28 Oct 2026, 03:56 UTCSource ↗

   ABC reported that early exit polling and results showed Netanyahu's bloc likely to win more seats than the opposition, but still falling short of the majority required to form a government.

5. Sydney Morning Herald

   28 Oct 2026, 06:38 UTCSource ↗

   The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Netanyahu's Likud defied most pre-election polls to emerge as Israel's biggest party, but his right-wing coalition is still short of a majority.

6. Fox News

   28 Oct 2026, 10:10 UTCSource ↗

   Fox News reported that with 70% of votes counted, Netanyahu's Likud was leading, but three possible paths to government formation kept the outcome uncertain.

7. The Hindu

   28 Oct 2026, 14:47 UTCSource ↗

   The Hindu reported that with more than 85% of ballots counted, Netanyahu's right-wing bloc was slightly ahead but still short of a majority, and that the president urged against a new vote.

8. CNBC

   28 Oct 2026, 16:00 UTCSource ↗

   CNBC reported that exit polls showed Netanyahu's alliance and Gadi Eisenkot's opposition bloc both well short of the numbers needed for a governing majority, and that Israeli bonds and the shekel fell.