Likud Leads Early Vote Count in Israeli Knesset Elections
Translated & summarized from NEWSru Israel by baba
Vote counting is underway for the 26th Knesset elections, with early results showing Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party leading with 22.2% of the votes counted from about a third of polling stations. Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party is in second place with 15.4%. Voter turnout was high at 77.7%, and final results are expected by November 4, 2026.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Likud leads early Knesset election results with 22.2% of votes counted from 31.3% of polling stations.
- Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party is in second place with 15.4% of the early vote.
- Voter turnout reached a high of 77.7% in the 26th Knesset elections.
- Preliminary calculations suggest Netanyahu's coalition parties may secure 59 seats.
- Final official results of the election are expected by November 4, 2026.
Vote counting is ongoing for the 26th Knesset elections, with preliminary results from approximately 31.3% of polling stations processed by early Wednesday, October 28. So far, the Likud party, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, has secured 22.2% of the valid votes, translating to an estimated 29 seats. Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party is in second place with 15.4%, projected to win 20 seats.
Other parties showing significant early results include the Joint List with 8.3% (11 seats), Naftali Bennett's Bayahad with 8.2% (11 seats), Yahadut HaTorah with 6.7% (9 seats), and NDI with 6.4% (8 seats). Otzma Yehudit, Democrats, Shas, and Tzionut HaDatit VeZeut are each projected to win 7 seats with around 6% of the vote. Ra'am is currently projected to win 4 seats with 3.7% of the vote. Several parties, including Yoaz Hendel and Yaron Zelicha's "Amcha Israel" and Ofer Winter's "Miluimnikim ve'Kalkalit," are currently below the 3.25% electoral threshold.
Preliminary calculations suggest that parties in Netanyahu's current coalition could collectively garner 59 seats, while four opposition parties might secure 46 seats, and Arab parties 15 seats. These figures are based on the votes counted so far and are subject to change as more results are tallied.
The voter turnout reached 77.7% by the close of polls, with 5,695,682 people voting, marking one of the highest turnouts in Knesset election history. The processed votes currently represent about 28% of the total ballots cast. The Central Election Committee will also need to count ballots from double envelopes, including those from soldiers, diplomats, prisoners, and hospital patients. Official final results are expected no later than November 4, 2026.
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