Voter turnout reached multi-decade highs as Israelis cast their ballots for the 26th Knesset on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
Initial exit polls project 50 seats for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, 53 seats for the opposition bloc, and 17 seats for Arab-led parties. Because a 61-seat majority is required to govern, neither primary block can form a coalition on these numbers alone.
However, these early projections do not yet account for the so-called "double-envelope" ballots cast by IDF soldiers, diplomats, prisoners, and hospitalized patients. Once these votes are tallied, the final seat distribution could shift by 10 to 15 seats.
https://www.thepetek.com/
Voter turnout reached multi-decade highs as Israelis cast their ballots for the 26th Knesset on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
Initial exit polls project 50 seats for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, 53 seats for the opposition bloc, and 17 seats for Arab-led parties. Because a 61-seat majority is required to govern, neither primary block can form a coalition on these numbers alone.
However, these early projections do not yet account for the so-called "double-envelope" ballots cast by IDF soldiers, diplomats, prisoners, and hospitalized patients. Once these votes are tallied, the final seat distribution could shift by 10 to 15 seats.
https://www.thepetek.com/
What if the opposition and arab parties form a coalition? It seems like the wise choice - even if they don't see eye to eye anything to dethrone Netenyahu's party should be their highest interest
What if the opposition and arab parties form a coalition? It seems like the wise choice - even if they don't see eye to eye anything to dethrone Netenyahu's party should be their highest interest
85.6% of the votes have been counted.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition — 53 seats.
Opposition bloc — 48 seats.
Arabic parties — 19 seats.
There remain about 600,000 votes in "double envelopes" which will be counted tomorrow.
85.6% of the votes have been counted.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition — 53 seats.
Opposition bloc — 48 seats.
Arabic parties — 19 seats.
There remain about 600,000 votes in "double envelopes" which will be counted tomorrow.
Whatever comes out of the election and the coalition formation, let us hope it leads to peace and ends the wars.
Whatever comes out of the election and the coalition formation, let us hope it leads to peace and ends the wars.
@salmon_rushdie said ^
What if the opposition and arab parties form a coalition? It seems like the wise choice - even if they don't see eye to eye anything to dethrone Netenyahu's party should be their highest interest
They committed not to during the election. Doing so would be breaking a major campaign promise and like result in Yashar becoming a very minor party in the next election.
Most Israeli's don't have a problem with how Bibi conducted the war. Not preventing it is an often cited reason for not voting for him. And there are other policy issues Israeli's oppose of Bibi but most of the people who voted for the opposition coalition would take Bibi as PM over sharing power with political parties that oppose Israeli security.
Keep in mind Gadi Eisenkot's chief disagreement with Bibi is Eisenkot didn't think Bibi was doing enough to destroy Hamas. On Gaza he is more militaristic than Bibi. He is more conciliatory on the West Bank than Bibi, but he has way more in common with Bibi than the Arab parties.
A more likely end result would be Eisenkot as PM and Bibi having a powerful cabinet position or Bibi remaining PM and Einsenkot as deputy PM. .
@salmon_rushdie said [^](/forum/redirect/post/sVMFZJp8)
> What if the opposition and arab parties form a coalition? It seems like the wise choice - even if they don't see eye to eye anything to dethrone Netenyahu's party should be their highest interest
They committed not to during the election. Doing so would be breaking a major campaign promise and like result in Yashar becoming a very minor party in the next election.
Most Israeli's don't have a problem with how Bibi conducted the war. Not preventing it is an often cited reason for not voting for him. And there are other policy issues Israeli's oppose of Bibi but most of the people who voted for the opposition coalition would take Bibi as PM over sharing power with political parties that oppose Israeli security.
Keep in mind Gadi Eisenkot's chief disagreement with Bibi is Eisenkot didn't think Bibi was doing enough to destroy Hamas. On Gaza he is more militaristic than Bibi. He is more conciliatory on the West Bank than Bibi, but he has way more in common with Bibi than the Arab parties.
A more likely end result would be Eisenkot as PM and Bibi having a powerful cabinet position or Bibi remaining PM and Einsenkot as deputy PM. .
So now Netanyahu is claiming the election was stolen. Ben Gvir is calling for Palestinian party leaders to be arrested.
Palestinian parties reached 15% of votes. Palestinians make up 21% of Israel's population. Turned out, Israeli Palestinians just voted this time.
Which is something Netanyahu, Ben Gvir et al. don't like and don't want.
So now Netanyahu is claiming the election was stolen. Ben Gvir is calling for Palestinian party leaders to be arrested.
Palestinian parties reached 15% of votes. Palestinians make up 21% of Israel's population. Turned out, Israeli Palestinians just voted this time.
Which is something Netanyahu, Ben Gvir et al. don't like and don't want.
@m011235 said ^
Israeli Palestinians voted
Israeli Palestinians are allowed to vote??? Wow,!!!! It is like the claims I have been hearing of Israel being an apartheid state are complete myth.
@m011235 said [^](/forum/redirect/post/Z41kbAjl)
Israeli Palestinians voted
Israeli Palestinians are allowed to vote??? Wow,!!!! It is like the claims I have been hearing of Israel being an apartheid state are complete myth.
100% of the votes have been counted.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition — 53 seats.
Opposition bloc — 48 seats.
Arabic parties — 19 seats.
Coalition talks will now take place over the next few weeks. If one of the blocs is able to poach lawmakers, it will form a new government. If that doesn't happen, there wil be a new elections.
100% of the votes have been counted.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition — 53 seats.
Opposition bloc — 48 seats.
Arabic parties — 19 seats.
Coalition talks will now take place over the next few weeks. If one of the blocs is able to poach lawmakers, it will form a new government. If that doesn't happen, there wil be a new elections.
@ed01106 said ^
Israeli Palestinians are allowed to vote??? Wow,!!!! It is like the claims I have been hearing of Israel being an apartheid state are complete myth.
Maybe Israel within its 1967 borders is not an apartheid state. Israeli Arabs live within these borders. But Israel within its de facto borders (including the Gaza strip and the West Bank) is definitely an apartheid state, and worse. In any case, Israel's human rights records is appalling.
Not my intention to deviate from the topic, just using the right to reply. Back to topic, Netanyahu and Ben Gvir have launched a full-fledged delegitimization attack on the election results, particularly on Arab parties' votes. I hope the Israeli democracy stands the test.
@ed01106 said [^](/forum/redirect/post/zutfqosl)
> Israeli Palestinians are allowed to vote??? Wow,!!!! It is like the claims I have been hearing of Israel being an apartheid state are complete myth.
Maybe Israel within its 1967 borders is not an apartheid state. Israeli Arabs live within these borders. But Israel within its *de facto* borders (including the Gaza strip and the West Bank) is definitely an apartheid state, and worse. In any case, Israel's human rights records is appalling.
Not my intention to deviate from the topic, just using the right to reply. Back to topic, Netanyahu and Ben Gvir have launched a full-fledged delegitimization attack on the election results, particularly on Arab parties' votes. I hope the Israeli democracy stands the test.
So are we getting rid of Netanyahu?
So are we getting rid of Netanyahu?
