LSN News › India

Politics · India Bureau

Israel election exit polls show no clear majority as Netanyahu seeks right-wing support

Israel held its first national election since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks, with exit polls indicating incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may lose his grip on power. However, no single party has secured an outright majority.

LSN India · 28 October 2026

Israel election exit polls show no clear majority as Netanyahu seeks right-wing support

Israelis voted Tuesday in their first parliamentary election since the devastating Hamas assault that triggered the ongoing Gaza conflict. Exit polling from the election suggested the political landscape has shifted, with Netanyahu's political future appearing uncertain as no coalition has emerged with a clear path to the required 61-seat majority in the 120-member Knesset.

The exit surveys indicated that Netanyahu's Likud party and allied right-wing factions would need to negotiate coalition arrangements to form a government. Netanyahu has signaled his intention to seek support from right-wing parties to maintain his position as prime minister, according to reports from the campaign trail.

The election results underscore the deep divisions within Israeli society over the country's military campaign in Gaza and broader security strategy. The vote comes at a critical juncture, with the nation grappling with both security concerns and domestic political fragmentation following months of military operations.

Final official results are expected in the coming days as election authorities complete their count. Coalition negotiations are anticipated to be complex, with multiple parties potentially holding leverage in determining Israel's next government formation.