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Shocking exit polls destroyed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hopes of an easy victory in the Israeli election Tuesday night. The exit polls published immediately after voting ended were contradictory: in some, Netanyahu’s rival for the premiership, Benny Gantz, held a clear lead, while others showed the two candidates virtually tied.

Shocking exit polls destroyed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hopes of an easy victory in the Israeli election Tuesday night. The exit polls published immediately after voting ended were contradictory: in some, Netanyahu’s rival for the premiership, Benny Gantz, held a clear lead, while others showed the two candidates virtually tied.

Turnout has been historically lower in the Arab community and, according to pollsters, Tuesday’s election saw particularly low numbers. Netanyahu’s Likud party provided activists with 1,200 hidden cameras “to monitor” Arab polling stations — a move that prompted Israel’s Central Elections Committee to file a police complaint.

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Channel 12 News has the center-left and right-wing blocs with 60 seats each – a tie. The channel’s exit polls also have Kahol Lavan with 37 seats to Likud’s 33.

Channel 13 has the right-wing bloc with 66 seats to the center-left’s 54, and Kahol Lavan and Likud with 36 seats each.

The Kan public broadcaster has the right-wing bloc with 64 seats and the center-left with 56, and Kahol Lavan with 37 seats to Likud’s 36.

The fates of several smaller parties appear to be up in the air, although all three channels have Zehut failing to meet the electoral threshold. In Kan’s exit polls, Gesher, United Arab List-Balad, Zehut and Hayamin Hehadash failing to make it into the Knesset. Channel 12 has Gesher, Zehut and Hayamin Hehadash failing to pass. Channel 13 has Gesher, UAL-Balad, and Zehut falling short.

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