56 seats for opposition in final poll as Israel votes

In a final Channel 12 poll released Friday, the opposition bloc was projected to win 56 seats in the Knesset, edging out Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, which was projected to secure 50 seats. Neither group was projected to reach the 61 seats required to form a government without the support of Arab parties. Polling stations across Israel opened at 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning for the first election held since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.

Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar Party was projected to win 22 seats, the highest number among all parties in the final poll. This figure places Yashar ahead of Likud, which was projected to win 19 seats, down from the 32 seats it holds in the current Knesset. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s B’Yachad Party was projected to receive 14 seats. These numbers indicate a shift in the political balance, with the opposition bloc gaining ground despite the absence of a clear majority.

Voters are weighing several pressing issues that have dominated the political conversation since the war began. The Israel Defense Forces faces a severe manpower crisis after three years of conflict. Contention continues over legislation requiring ultra-Orthodox men to serve in the military. Many citizens also call for a state commission to investigate government failures leading up to the October 7 attack. The question of Netanyahu’s continued tenure, having led Israel for 19 non-consecutive years, remains a central point of debate.

The fate of smaller parties could influence coalition building. Several groups are fighting to clear the 3.25% electoral threshold. According to calculations from the Taub Center, a party needs 165,635 votes to enter the Knesset if voter turnout matches the 70% rate seen in 2022. As turnout increases, the number of votes required to cross the threshold also rises. Parties such as Ofer Winter’s People of Israel and Yoaz Hendel’s the Reservists-Economics face a narrow margin for success.

Police prepared for public order challenges on election day. Authorities announced that approximately 20,000 police officers, Border Police officers, and volunteers would be deployed nationwide. These forces are stationed at thousands of polling stations and in surrounding areas. The goal is to safeguard the integrity of the elections and ensure the democratic process proceeds according to law. Exit polls are expected at 10:00 p.m., providing preliminary projections before official results are finalized in the coming days.