Opposition Bloc Takes 52 Seats in Exit Polls, Short of Governing Majority
Former Israeli military chief Gadi Eisenkot claimed victory after exit polls showed his opposition bloc securing a narrow 52-seat lead over Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition in the national legislative election. Political factions across the country now face tense coalition bargaining, as neither major camp reached the 61-seat majority required to form a government in the 120-seat Knesset.
Netanyahu’s ruling coalition saw its parliamentary strength project down from 68 seats to between 50 and 53, marking a drop of over 20 percent.
Likud retained a lead over Eisenkot’s newly formed Yashar party on an individual basis, ensuring that no single group holds a direct path to the premiership without extensive third-party negotiations. The 66-year-old former general, who served as the 21st chief of staff from 2015 to 2019 after enlisting in the Golani Brigade in 1978, founded Yashar in 2025 following his June 2024 exit from the wartime administration. His campaign platform has focused on state accountability while maintaining support for defense operations and the strategic doctrine associated with his military tenure.
Eisenkot previously joined Netanyahu’s emergency cabinet alongside Benny Gantz following the October 7, 2023 attacks before stepping down over the absence of a clear postwar plan.
