Israeli exit polls show narrow lead for opposition over Netanyahu camp

Opposition supporters gathered in Tel Aviv on October 27 to celebrate exit poll results that gave Gadi Eisenkot's anti-Netanyahu bloc a narrow lead over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's allies, Euronews reported. Supporters chanted for Netanyahu to leave office and hailed Eisenkot as the next prime minister. However, projected results indicate that neither bloc has secured an immediate clear majority to form a government. [1][4]

According to Euronews, the exit polls project the opposition bloc to win 52 to 53 seats, compared to about 50 seats for Netanyahu's camp. FTMQ World reported earlier that the exit polls put the opposition bloc at 52 seats against 50 for Netanyahu's coalition. Both figures leave each coalition short of the 61 seats required for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. [1][4]

Euronews reported that Netanyahu's Likud remains the largest individual party, with projections showing it will take 24 to 25 seats, while the Yashar party is projected in second place with 21 to 23 seats. Eisenkot claimed victory following the projections, stating that the outcome gives him the primary right to attempt to assemble a governing coalition. [1]

Voter turnout in the parliamentary election reached 77.7 percent, as FTMQ World reported earlier. The Central Elections Committee of Israel turned down a request from Netanyahu's party to keep polling stations open past the scheduled closing time of 10:00 pm local time. [4]