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People cross a bridge beneath a television campaign advertisement featuring Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, and his main rival, opposition candidate Gadi Eisenkot, ahead of the general election, in Ramat Gan on October 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

JTA — Traders on the Kalshi and Polymarket prediction markets are betting that former Israel Defense Forces chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot will replace incumbent Benjamin Netanyahu as Israel’s next prime minister following Tuesday’s election.

That assessment comes despite polls released last week showing that neither candidate has a clear path to a governing coalition with a 61-seat majority.

Most polls predict what has been dubbed the “change bloc” led by Eisenkot at 52 to 56 seats, while Netanyahu’s coalition is polling at around 50 seats.

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Promoted: Z3 2026

Kalshi traders, however, give Eisenkot a 52% chance of becoming Israel’s next prime minister, followed by Netanyahu at 28% and the former prime minister…