Opposition Leads Netanyahu in Israeli Exit Polls — SkimNews
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- Opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot held a narrow lead over Netanyahu’s coalition in exit polls, though neither side secured enough seats for a majority
- Arab parties Raam and the Joint List are projected to win 17 or 18 seats — their strongest showing ever — driven by high Arab voter turnout
- Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party won 24 seats in exit polls, a symbolic gain from pre-election projections but insufficient for a governing majority
- Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats party, declared the opposition had 'fired Netanyahu and Likud' and urged swift formation of a 'change government'
- Mansour Abbas, head of Raam, stated his party seeks to replace Netanyahu’s government 'in every possible way' and will negotiate support after ensuring a non-Netanyahu majority
- Itamar Ben-Gvir, a far-right coalition leader, avoided declaring victory or defeat, saying 'the night is still young' and expressing hope for a right-wing government
Why it matters: The opposition’s narrow lead and Arab parties’ record gains shift leverage in coalition talks, with Netanyahu needing either unity talks or Arab support — both politically fraught. Over 600,000 uncounted ballots, which previously favored Netanyahu, add uncertainty to the outcome.
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