Netanyahu’s Likud Party Takes Early Lead In Israel Election Exit Poll

Israel election exit poll puts PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party in first place, though the vote stays split, with neither the ruling coalition nor the opposition bloc crossing the threshold needed to form a government.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling Likud party is leading Israel’s parliamentary election, according to a fresh Israel election exit poll from Channel 12 local television.

Likud Leads With 24 Seats In Exit Poll

Likud wins 24 seats in the Knesset, the Israel election exit poll shows. The main opposition party, Yashar, trails close behind with 22 seats.

Opposition Bloc Edges Ahead Overall

The Israel election exit poll reveals a split outcome for the country’s major blocs. The opposition bloc collects 52 seats in total, while the ruling coalition holds 50 seats. Arab parties pick up 18 seats between them. This means neither side reaches the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120 seat parliament. Forming the next government will require further talks.

Who Makes Up The Current Ruling Coalition

Israel’s coalition government, formed back in 2022, currently runs the country. Likud leads this bloc alongside the ultra Orthodox United Torah Judaism party. The national religious Religious Zionism party and Jewish Power also sit within the coalition. The ultra Orthodox Shas party rounds out the group.

The Opposition Camp Challenging Netanyahu

The opposition facing Netanyahu’s government includes several parties. Centrist party Yashar, led by Lieutenant General Gadi Eisenkot, stands as a key challenger. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett heads the centrist Be’Yachad bloc. Avigdor Lieberman’s right wing Yisrael Beiteinu party completes the opposition lineup.

Record Turnout Reported Across Israel

Voters cast ballots using party lists in this election. Candidates from 38 political parties competed for seats, and the electoral threshold stands at 3.25 percent. Around 7.3 million Israeli citizens hold the right to vote.

Israel’s Central Election Commission reported turnout at 73.4 percent two hours before polls closed. This marks a record figure for that point in the day since 1988. The number of voters already topped the final turnout seen in the 2022 parliamentary election.