Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political bloc has maintained a lead over its main rivals as nearly 90 per cent of votes were counted in the country’s parliamentary election, but neither side has secured enough seats to form a government independently.
Preliminary figures released by Israel’s Central Elections Committee showed Netanyahu’s right-wing and religious allies projected to win 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset, while the opposition bloc led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot was projected to secure 48 seats. Arab-led parties were projected to win a combined 19 seats.
The results leave both major blocs short of the 61 seats required for a parliamentary majority. Netanyahu’s bloc would need support from additional lawmakers or parties to form a government, while Eisenkot’s alliance would also face the challenge of assembling a coalition capable of commanding sufficient support in parliament.
More than five million votes had been counted by Wednesday evening, with the election authority reporting that approximately 89.8 per cent of ballots had been processed. The remaining votes include special double-envelope ballots cast by soldiers, diplomats, prisoners and other eligible voters who could not vote at their designated polling stations. These ballots could still affect the final distribution of seats.
The combined projected 19 seats for the Joint List and Ra’am would represent a significant increase in Arab political representation. Their potential support could prove important in efforts to form a government, although cooperation with the Arab-led parties remains politically contentious among some opposition figures.
Netanyahu’s Likud party remained the largest single party in the preliminary projections, but the prime minister’s bloc was projected to lose seats compared with its representation in the outgoing Knesset. The election was widely viewed as a test of his leadership following the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023, and the wars and security controversies that followed.
Netanyahu has indicated that he intends to seek another term, while Eisenkot has said his alliance would work to bring about a change of government. The competing blocs must now assess their possible coalition partners as the official vote count continues.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog is expected to consult political parties after the final results are announced before deciding whom to task with forming a government. Herzog has urged political leaders to seek a solution that avoids another election and the uncertainty that would accompany a renewed campaign.
The election outcome also has implications for Israel’s regional and international relations. US President Donald Trump publicly backed Netanyahu during the campaign, a development covered in TheDailyNewsHub’s report, “Trump Says His Endorsement Helped Netanyahu as Israel Vote Count Continues”. Debates over security, the war in Gaza and relations with neighbouring countries also remained prominent issues. The eventual coalition’s composition will help determine the government’s priorities, although the election figures alone do not establish what policies a future administration will adopt.
The final result remains subject to the completion of counting and official certification. Until the coalition-building process produces a government, Netanyahu will continue as caretaker prime minister.