Eisenkot claims victory as exit polls show Netanyahu bloc collapsing in Israel election

Exit polls from Israel’s national election on Wednesday, 28 October, indicate a collapse in support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing bloc, though neither major faction has secured a 61-seat majority in the 120-seat Knesset. The preliminary data suggests a period of intense coalition bargaining or a potential minority government. Eisenkot claims victory as Likud loses ground Gadi Eisenkot, the former general challenging Netanyahu, declared a \"complete victory\" for his bloc following the release of the polls. According to projections from Channels 11, 12, and 13, Netanyahu’s Likud remains the largest single party with 24 to 25 seats. However, his broader coalition has plummeted from 68 seats in the previous Knesset to a projected 50 seats. Eisenkot’s Yashar party is projected to win between 21 and 23 seats. Total bloc projections place Eisenkot’s alliance at 52 to 53 seats, giving him a narrow edge over the incumbent. Channel 14, a pro-Netanyahu outlet, provided an outlier projection, granting the Prime Minister’s coalition 60 seats. Record voter turnout and Arab party surge Data from Israel’s Central Elections Committee confirmed a voter turnout of 77.7% by the close of polls at 10 pm on Tuesday, 27 October. This represents 5,695,682 voters, the highest turnout recorded in an Israeli election since 1999. Arab parties are projected to win a record 17 to 18 seats, potentially positioning them as decisive power brokers in the upcoming coalition negotiations.…