Israel election exit polls show no clear winner as blocs fall short of majority

The projections left the country’s political direction unresolved. Multiple reports described the two blocs as tied or broadly even, while the available evidence did not establish either a final seat distribution or an eventual governing coalition. Final results were still pending and could differ from the exit polls.

According to Deutsche Welle, Netanyahu’s party was projected to be the largest individual party in parliament. That position did not translate into a majority for his bloc, however, as the exit-poll projections left both sides below the 61-seat threshold needed to form a government.

Eisenkot, described by the BBC and The Hindu as a former military chief, emerged in the projections as the central figure in the opposition bloc’s challenge to Netanyahu. The Hindu reported that Netanyahu and his rival each claimed a mandate after the election, although the supplied reports do not include detailed statements explaining those claims.

The count remained subject to further reporting. The Guardian said votes cast at special polling stations were not expected to be fully announced before Thursday. Those stations include ballots cast by some soldiers, diplomats, prisoners, prison guards and people in hospital, according to the newspaper. Until those votes and the remaining results are incorporated, the final balance between the blocs remains unsettled.