Knesset election: Head-to-head race expected in Israel

For many Israelis it is nothing less than a fateful election - and that is reflected in the turnout. This is already at a record level. Surveys point to a narrow Re

Expected head-to-head race Extremely high voter turnout in Israel As of: October 27, 2026 • 9:05 p.m

For many Israelis it is nothing less than a fateful election - and that is reflected in the turnout. This is at a record level. Polls suggest a close race.

The parliamentary elections in Israel are showing high voter turnout and a close race between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's camp and his political opponents.

Around 7.3 million eligible voters are called upon to choose the 120 members of the Knesset. According to the current status, the polling stations should close at 9 p.m. CET. Afterwards, the first forecasts based on post-election surveys are expected.

According to the Central Election Commission, voter turnout was the highest in decades. By 7:00 p.m. CET it was 74.3 percent. In the last election in 2022 it was 66.3 percent at this time. Daytime voter turnout data has been collected since 1973.

According to eyewitnesses, long queues formed in front of polling stations in Tel Aviv, but also in Arab cities in Israel. According to media reports, more than 70,000 Israelis traveled from abroad to cast their votes.

Pia Steckelbach, ARD Tel Aviv, on the consequences of the Knesset election for Israel's future tagesschau24, October 27, 2026 • 2:00 p.m. Call for the election of Netanyahu Prime Minister Netanyahu and his wife Sara Netanyahu cast their votes at a polling station in Jerusalem. They appealed: “Go vote!”. The Prime Minister also called for people to vote on Platform X.

As in previous elections, Netanyahu spoke of an allegedly above-average turnout among Arab citizens. It is an “emergency call”. In comparison, voter turnout in the right-wing camp was lower, he wrote on social media. The right-wing extremist Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir made similar statements. Only a few Arab-Israeli voters have voted for Zionist or right-wing parties in the past.

Prime Minister Netanyahu voted in Jerusalem with his wife Sara.

Gadi Eisenkot, Netanyahu's strongest challenger, announced a new style of politics in the event of a change of government: "A wind of change is blowing in Israel, this change will come tonight at 10 p.m.." He doesn't want to lead the country through "division and scaremongering, but through unity and real love."

However, according to leading politicians, a real change of course with regard to politics in the West Bank and Gaza Strip seems unlikely.

Gadi Eisenkot is considered Netanyahu's most promising challenger. He voted together with his wife Hanna in Herzliya.

The Israeli police minister called for the killing of Palestinians. more

Earlier in the evening, Netanyahu's Likud party requested an extension to the opening hours of polling stations. “We have submitted a request to extend the times for voting,” the party said on the Telegram online service. The ultra-Orthodox Shas party and the right-wing extremist Otzma Jehudit (“Jewish Strength”) also called for longer opening hours. They justified this with the high number of people in front of the polling stations.

The Jashar von Eisenkot party “decisively” opposed the move. "No exceptional incident has occurred that would justify granting this request," she said. The motion aims to "prepare the ground for accusations intended to question the integrity of the election." The central election committee has now rejected the application.

The current circumstances do not justify extending the opening hours of polling stations beyond the planned closure at 9 p.m. CET, the Commission said. All eligible voters who were in line by this point were still allowed to cast their vote, it was said.

Not all votes will be counted today. As per rotation, ballot papers from hundreds of thousands of Israeli soldiers and reservists will not be counted until one day later, starting tomorrow. This group of voters is said to have strong support for right-wing parties.

Preliminary final results are expected on Thursday. The official results are due to be published eight days after the election. A difficult government formation is expected.

With information from Jan-Christoph Kitzler, ARD Studio Tel Aviv

This topic in the program: BR24 Radio | News | Oct 27, 2026 | 1:34 p.m