Israel votes as polls point to no clear majority

TEL AVIV

A Likud party campaign ad featuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump, with a Hebrew message reading, "We have one opportunity to win," appears on a bus in Jerusalem Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Israelis head to the polls on Oct. 27, with pre-election surveys suggesting neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc nor the main opposition parties will secure a parliamentary majority.

Channel 12’s final poll projected 56 seats for the main opposition bloc, led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, 50 for Netanyahu’s allies and 14 for Arab parties.

Both main blocs fell short of the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-member Knesset.

About 7.3 million Israelis are eligible to vote, including roughly 500,000 for the first time.

Voters choose party lists rather than directly electing a prime minister.

Most polling stations are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time.

The Israeli military announced the closure of all land crossings with the occupied West Bank for election day.

Police planned to deploy 22,000 officers, broadcaster i24NEWS reported, citing a senior police official.

U.S. President Donald Trump renewed his support for Netanyahu in a Truth Social post ahead of the election, urging Israelis to back the prime minister.

“Vote for Bibi Netanyahu for Prime Minister; we have to finish the job that we started!” Trump wrote.