Eisenkot said the exit poll results showed a “complete lack of confidence in Netanyahu and the October 7 government.” Yair Golan, leader of Israel’s left-wing Democrats party, added that the public had “spoken” and “ousted the Netanyahu government.” However, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar warned that celebrations from the left were “premature,” noting that “one thing seems quite clear: The Likud is the largest party in Israel.”

Despite the opposition bloc’s lead, Netanyahu’s Likud party is projected to be the largest single party, with 24–25 seats, according to the exit polls.

Arab parties are projected to win a record 18 seats in the Knesset, according to the exit polls. This could increase the likelihood that any government formed to unseat Netanyahu would require Arab party support, a prospect that remains contentious among Jewish party leaders.

Israel’s Central Elections Committee reported that turnout hit over 77 percent, a record high. Within the first seven hours of voting, 44.9 percent of eligible voters had already cast their ballots, breaking all previous records. Netanyahu urged supporters to continue voting, saying turnout was high among his opponents and that “we need it to be high, too.”

Opposition groups have promised to hold a national inquiry into the security failures of Oct. 7, which Netanyahu’s government has resisted.

Eisenkot, a former military chief of staff, campaigned on a promise of a “new spirit” for Israel and a reckoning with the past three years. He said he was “convinced that by the end of today, we will see a change — a new spirit for the State of Israel — that will serve as a rectification for the past three years and for that terrible day.”

Votes are still being counted, and the final outcome could shift. If neither Netanyahu nor Eisenkot can form a governing coalition, Netanyahu could remain as caretaker prime minister until another election is held.