Israel Votes: Neck-and-Neck Exit Polls, Record Turnout at 77.7%

Tel Aviv, October 28: Israelis went to the polls on Tuesday in a parliamentary election whose exit polls show a tight contest with no clear winner. Projections suggest that both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's alliance and the opposition bloc could win 51 seats each in the 120-member Knesset, well short of the 61 needed for a majority.

The public broadcaster's exit poll offered a similar picture, with neither side able to claim control. Netanyahu's Likud is expected to take 27 seats, while Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party is projected to win 21.

Another major channel's updated survey also estimated 51 seats for each bloc. It projected that Palestinian-Arab parties in Israel could collectively win 18 seats.

These results point to a deeply divided electorate. Although a considerable number of Israeli voters oppose Netanyahu's leadership, he continues to attract strong backing from a large section of Likud supporters. The projected seat split, however, suggests that the opposition's combined strength and the possible role of smaller parties could make forming another Netanyahu-led government difficult.

Turnout was a major story of the day. According to the election committee that oversees voting, 77.7 percent of eligible voters had cast their ballots by the time polling stations closed at 10 p.m. local time. That is the highest turnout recorded in an Israeli election in 27 years and more than seven percentage points above the 2022 figure.

Israeli Arab voters also turned out in record numbers, adding a fresh and important element to the race. Their participation has drawn attention because the 18 seats projected for Arab parties could give them substantial bargaining power during coalition talks.

Some observers believe that power could make Arab parties kingmakers if Netanyahu's bloc fails to secure a majority. Since no camp currently appears to have a simple route to 61 seats, the final tally and the decisions of smaller parties will play a decisive role in shaping Israel's next government.