Israel’s 2026 election

Israel election: Netanyahu claims ‘decisive majority’ for the right as updated polls put his bloc ahead

Channel 12 now gives Netanyahu’s camp 52 seats to the opposition’s 49, as the prime minister rules out relying on Arab parties. These are exit polls, not results.

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Today

1. 05:22

   INTERNATIONAL

   Israel election: updated exit polls show Netanyahu and Eisenkot blocs tied as Eisenkot hails ‘new era’

   Channel 13 and Kan now put both blocs on 51 seats, with Likud up to 27 and Arab-led parties on 18. These are exit polls, not results.

   

2. 04:23

   INTERNATIONAL

   Israel election: Netanyahu races to stop Likud defections and signals openness to unity government, reports say

   Netanyahu wants to be first to try to form a government, Israeli media reported, as a former ambassador said there is “no way in the world” he can build a coalition.

   

3. 03:42

   INTERNATIONAL

   Israel election count begins as Arab leader Mansour Abbas says ‘there is no government’

   Turnout hit a record 77.7 per cent. Only partial results are in, and Ra’am’s leader says both blocs have courted him while Netanyahu stays silent.

   

4. 03:21

   INTERNATIONAL

   Israel election: Lieberman urges Likud to oust Netanyahu as Arab parties hail ‘historic day’

   Opposition leaders said voters had “fired” the government and the Joint List celebrated projected gains, while Netanyahu stayed silent hours after the exit polls.

   

5. 02:21

   INTERNATIONAL

   Israel election: Netanyahu camp calls opposition joy ‘premature’ as exit polls show Likud slump

   Likud is projected to fall to 24–25 seats from 32, Ben-Gvir’s camp called voters “stupid”, and Gantz urged a unity government. These are exit polls, not results.

   

6. 01:13

   INTERNATIONAL

   Israel election exit polls: no majority for Netanyahu or Eisenkot as Arab parties hold the key

   Channel 12 and Channel 13 project 52–53 seats for the opposition bloc and 50 for Netanyahu’s, short of the 61 needed, with Arab-led parties on 17–18. These are exit polls, not results.

   

Yesterday

1. 23:55

   INTERNATIONAL

   Israel election results: when will we know who won, and what happens next?

   Exit polls come at 1am Pakistan time, but the count, the threshold and coalition talks mean the final answer could take weeks.

   

2. 23:50

   INTERNATIONAL

   Israel election: who is Gadi Eisenkot, the ex-army chief trying to unseat Netanyahu?

   A former chief of staff who lost a son in Gaza and quit Netanyahu’s war cabinet now leads the main challenge to him.

   

3. 23:49

   INTERNATIONAL

   Israel election: Netanyahu accuses Arab citizens of ‘stealing’ vote as turnout hits record

   Arab-led parties accused the prime minister of inciting hatred, as rights groups reported delays and shortages at polling stations in Arab towns.

   

4. 22:14

   INTERNATIONAL

   ‘Absolutely not’: Pakistanis on the street reject Netanyahu’s bid for another term, TT survey finds

   None of the people who answered a Thursday Times street survey said the Israeli prime minister should win, with most citing Gaza and one warning that “a whole line” stands behind him.

   

5. 17:17

   INTERNATIONAL

   Israelis turn out in record numbers as Netanyahu’s political survival hangs on the vote

   Turnout hit 66.7 per cent by 6pm, the highest at that hour in decades, as Netanyahu accused Arab citizens of trying to “steal” the election.