---
title: "Israel Releases First Knesset Election Results: Exit Polls Give Eisenkot's Bloc the Lead"
description: "Voting in Israel's parliamentary elections has concluded. Initial exit polls show Gadi Eisenkot's bloc leading with 52 mandates, alongside a 50-year record voter turnout."
date: 2026-10-27T20:16:55.840Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/israel-knesset-elections-exit-polls-eisenkot
tags: [israel, knesset-elections, exit-polls, gadi-eisenkot, benjamin-netanyahu, yashar-party, likud]
author: "Marina Slivenko"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Israel Releases First Knesset Election Results: Exit Polls Give Eisenkot's Bloc the Lead

![Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot against a blue backdrop during the Israeli parliamentary elections](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/27/izraile-vybory-knesset-ekzit-polly-ayzenkot/izraile-vybory-knesset-ekzit-polly-ayzenkot-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Voting in Israel's parliamentary elections concluded on October 27.
- Exit polls show Gadi Eisenkot's bloc (Yashar party) leading with 52 mandates.
- These are the first elections since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack and the Gaza war.
- Forming a government requires a majority of at least 61 out of 120 deputies.
- A 50-year record voter turnout was recorded during the election.

Voting in Israel's parliamentary elections has concluded. The first exit poll results, published immediately after the closing of polling stations, indicate a lead for the opposition bloc. According to exit polls, the coalition led by Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, won 52 mandates in the Knesset, placing it in first place in the race to form the future government.

### What the Exit Polls Show

According to the initial exit poll data, Gadi Eisenkot's bloc secured 52 out of 120 mandates. This means the opposition has pulled ahead even before the official vote count begins. However, the final results will only be known after the counting procedure is complete, and exit polls provide only a preliminary picture of the balance of power in the new parliament.

### Context: The First Election After the War

The parliamentary elections in Israel took place on October 27. These are the country's first elections since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent war in the Gaza Strip. Voters determined the composition of all 120 deputy seats in the Knesset—the Israeli parliament—making these elections particularly significant for the state's future domestic and foreign policy.

### The Main Confrontation: Netanyahu vs. Eisenkot

The central electoral battle unfolded between the bloc of incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, leader of the Likud party, and the opposition led by Gadi Eisenkot. Eisenkot is the former Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces and leader of the Yashar party. The confrontation between these two figures and their blocs defined the election campaign agenda.

### How the Electoral System Works

Israel's electoral system provides for proportional distribution of seats in the Knesset among party lists. To enter parliament, a party must cross the 3.25% vote threshold. Crucially, a single party's victory does not guarantee its ability to form a government: securing a parliamentary majority requires the support of at least 61 out of 120 deputies, meaning the outcome will depend on coalition negotiations.

### Record Voter Turnout

It is specifically noted that these elections in Israel recorded the highest voter turnout in the last 50 years. High voter participation highlights the significance of the moment and the intensity of the political standoff, which will be resolved during the formation of the new government.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [В Израиле появились первые результаты экзит-поллов: кто лидирует на выборах](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/izrayili-z-yavilisya-pershi-rezultati-ekzit-1793129303.html) - Basis source: voting completed, exit polls show 52 mandates for Eisenkot's bloc, elections on October 27, 50-year record turnout, 3.25% threshold, 61-mandate majority. Exit poll data is preliminary.
- [Взаимные претензии по итогам экзит-поллов](https://www.ekhokavkaza.com/a/25423041.html) - Подтверждено по источнику ekhokavkaza.com

## FAQ

### How many mandates did Eisenkot's bloc win according to exit polls?

According to exit polls, the bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, won 52 mandates and is in the lead.

### When did the elections in Israel take place?

The parliamentary elections took place on October 27; these are the first elections since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, and the Gaza war.

### How many seats are in the Knesset and what is the electoral threshold?

There are 120 seats in the Knesset. To enter parliament, a party must win at least 3.25% of the vote.

### What is required to form a government?

Winning a plurality is not enough for power: a majority requires the support of at least 61 out of 120 deputies.