With nearly 3.5 million votes counted, Israel's Central Elections Committee data put Netanyahu's bloc at 56 seats and the opposition at 48, with Arab parties at 16, leaving neither side with the 61 needed for a majority.
Partial results from Israel's Central Elections Committee show Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc leading with 56 seats after nearly 3.5 million votes counted, while the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot holds 48 and Arab parties 16, leaving both short of the 61 seats required for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset.
Voter turnout reached 77.7 percent when polls closed on October 27th, the highest since 1999, according to the committee, with strong participation among Arab voters. Likud remains the largest single party.
The counts update earlier exit polls that had projected a narrow edge for the opposition or a near tie, confirming an inconclusive outcome that will require weeks of coalition negotiations.
The Central Elections Committee data and reporting from the Jerusalem Post and Times of Israel confirm the seat projections from the partial count, the turnout figure, and the absence of a majority for either bloc; no official final results have been released yet.
The deadlock returns Israel to the familiar cycle of coalition bargaining after the first national election since the October 7, 2023 attacks, with Arab parties positioned as potential kingmakers if either side breaks its previous pledges against partnering with them. Netanyahu has called for a right-wing government and warned against reliance on Arab parties, while opposition figures urge unity to form a change government. Final results are expected by the end of October 28th.
People Sentiments Public Mood: Neutral
- Netanyahu called for a strong right-wing government
- Eisenkot's allies said they would not let the chance to replace the government slip away
- Arab leaders indicated openness to talks