Netanyahu’s bloc leads in Israel vote count but falls short of majority

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has edged ahead in the count of ballots in a parliamentary election but is short of a majority, with 51.8 percent of ballots tallied on Wednesday, according to preliminary results.

Netanyahu’s bloc was forecast to win 55 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, while the opposition bloc led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot was on 49 seats. Arab parties had won 16 seats, partial results indicated, reported Agence France-Presse.

A party or bloc would need 61 seats to have a majority in parliament. The numbers are still unofficial and could change as counting continues.

The figures show Eisenkot’s bloc could win an overall majority if it gains the support of Arab parties, though forming a coalition could be challenging. Both Netanyahu and Eisenkot have refused to depend on Arab legislators to establish a government.

The election, the first since the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, was dominated by discussion about security, the wars that ensued, and Netanyahu’s leadership.

A clearer picture of the final seat allocation should emerge with the additional ballot boxes counted. If neither side manages to build a government coalition, Israel may be headed for weeks of negotiations or another election.