Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc will secure 51 seats, equal to the number obtained by the opposition bloc, and not a majority of the 120-seat Knesset, in the latest exit poll results released Wednesday by Kan 11 and Channel 13.
The projections put all Arab parties together at 18 seats, thus falling short of the 61 needed to govern with a majority by both main blocs, according to Anadolu Agency.
Channel 13, Netanyahu’s Likud was forecast to gain 27 seats, the most seats for a party, with Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party second with 23 seats, and the alliance led by former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Together, in third with 13 seats.
If the polls are right, the projections might leave small political parties and groups representing Arab constituencies in a position to shape coalition talks. Yet, the makeup of the new government is still unclear, as none of the two blocs has won an outright majority in the exit polls.
The numbers are not official results and are only estimates. Counting of votes started after the polls closed on Tuesday. The outcome of the vote is expected after the counting is over. The official results are due once the vote count is finished.
The results of the vote will decide whether Netanyahu will be able to form a governing coalition or whether his rival will be able to marshal enough support to form a different government.
