By

Dov Lieber

Senior Reporter

Dov Lieber is a senior reporter for CBS News based in Tel Aviv, covering political, diplomatic and security developments across Israel, the Palestinian Territories and the broader Middle East.

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October 27, 2026 / 5:10 PM EDT / CBS News

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Exit polls from Israel's major television networks project that a majority of Israelis voted against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition in Tuesday's election, but his Likud party still emerged as the largest party among all the contenders. Neither bloc, Netanyahu or the opposition, has a clear majority.

While Netanyahu appears to have won fewer votes than his main challenger, according to the early exit polls, both candidates will likely struggle to cobble together a coalition.

One or the other would need to obtain majority support in Israel's 120-seat parliament, known as the Knesset, in order to form a government.

Israel's two Arab parties won more seats in parliament than in any previous…