Netanyahu's bloc leads in Israel election as 85% of votes counted
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (photo: Getty Images)
The bloc led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is projected to win 53 seats in Israel's election, with more than 85% of the vote counted, The Times of Israel reports.
The Central Elections Committee has processed about 93% of regular ballots, representing 85.6% of the total vote.
A parliamentary majority requires at least 61 seats.
-
Netanyahu's bloc: 53 seats.
-
Gadi Eisenkot's bloc: 48 seats.
-
Arab parties: 19 seats (a historic high).
The results are not yet final.
The Committee still needs to check the remaining 7% of regular ballots and count about 600,000 votes in double envelopes, which it will add over the coming days.
The following political parties failed to clear the 3.25% electoral threshold: Reservists (2.6%), People of Israel (1.6%), and Charedi Public (0.2%).
On October 27, Israel held parliamentary elections that saw the highest voter turnout since 1999, with more than 77.7% of eligible voters casting ballots.
The campaign unfolded amid intense political competition and regional security challenges.
The key question now is the composition of the future coalition, as neither bloc has secured an absolute majority of 61 seats.
Experts have also analyzed the potential implications of the Israeli election for Ukraine and possible scenarios in the Middle East.
An opposition victory could intensify dialogue between Kyiv and Jerusalem, particularly on countering Iranian drones and sharing military experience.
At the same time, a reshuffling of power in Israel could significantly alter the overall balance of power and the region's geopolitical landscape.
