Update: With Most Israeli Ballots Counted, Netanyahu's Bloc Leads but Remains Short of Majority
Partial official results give Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's allies 54 seats, ahead of Gadi Eisenkot's camp at 48, with 61 needed; party leaders are to meet President Isaac Herzog on Friday.
Learn more ›JERUSALEM, Israel —
With about 72% of ballot boxes counted Wednesday morning, Oct. 28, the parties backing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held 54 seats in Israel's 26th Knesset, still seven short of the 61 needed for a majority in the 120-seat parliament, according to partial results from the Central Elections Committee reported by the Times of Israel.
Learn more ›The bloc led by former army chief Gadi Eisenkot stood at 48 seats, and Arab-led parties at 18 after the Ra'am party gained two seats in the count. The partial results put the Netanyahu bloc ahead of where the election-night exit polls had placed it, but the Times of Israel cautioned that the figures will change as counting continues. Earlier in the morning, with about 66% counted, the Netanyahu bloc had 56 seats.
Three parties were below the 3.25% threshold needed to enter the Knesset: the Reservists party at 2.7%, the People of Israel party at 1.7% and the Charedi Public party at 0.2%. Ballots cast in double envelopes, including those of soldiers, are counted last.
See where this is ›Both leaders have claimed the right to form the next government. Speaking at Likud headquarters in Jerusalem after 3 a.m., Netanyahu said “the Likud is the biggest party in Israel” and called for a “right-wing, nationalist, strong government,” saying he would not rely on Arab parties. Eisenkot, speaking in Tel Aviv, said “the public voted for change” and urged Netanyahu to step down.
Opposition figures are divided over how to reach a majority. Democrats party chief Yair Golan called for a government in partnership with Arab parties, while the Times of Israel reported that many opposition lawmakers have vowed not to sit with them. Otzma Yehudit party leader Itamar Ben Gvir, a Netanyahu ally, warned that a unity government with Eisenkot would be “a terrible mistake.”
Learn more ›All Israel News reported that final results are expected Thursday night, Oct. 29, and that on Friday the leaders of every party elected to the Knesset will meet President Isaac Herzog to recommend who should get the first chance to form a coalition. Watchman News will report the final results.
