Netanyahu Bloc Holds Slight Lead in Israeli Election Vote Count

As vote counting for the 26th Knesset elections nears its peak, updated poll models indicate a slight advantage for Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc. An i24NEWS sample projects 55 seats for Netanyahu's camp versus 49 for the "change" bloc, with the Likud party emerging as the largest single party. The "Yishai!" party, led by Gadi Eisenkot, is positioned as the second-largest party.

Following the tally of approximately half the votes, i24NEWS Arabic reported Netanyahu's bloc securing 56 seats against Eisenkot's bloc with 49. Former U.S. President Donald Trump commented on the election results, stating, "Thanks to me, Netanyahu was not defeated, but rather the result was a tie or a victory."

With 41% of votes counted, Netanyahu's bloc held 57 seats, while the "Yashar" bloc had 21. The Central Elections Committee announced updated results after counting 4,274 ballot boxes, representing 1,774,362 votes. The Likud party led with 22.02% of the vote, followed by "Yashar" at 15.46%, the Joint List at 8.57%, and Naftali Bennett's "Together" alliance at 8.29%.

News 12 projected the Likud party winning 27 seats and the right-wing parties securing 21, with Arab parties obtaining 18 seats. Kan 11's sample predicted the Likud party increasing its seat count to 27 and a tie between the two blocs at 51 seats. The i24NEWS poll gave Netanyahu's bloc a 55-seat advantage over the change bloc's 49, with Arab parties garnering 16 seats.

Gadi Eisenkot stated, "It would be a mistake to hold additional elections. I will work to form a Zionist mobilization government."