Israel Election: Netanyahu Bloc Leads With 54 Seats, Eisenkot Bloc at 49 as 77% of Votes Counted

As of Wednesday, October 28, with approximately 77% of votes counted in Israel's 26th Knesset elections, preliminary results show Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc securing 54 mandates. Gadi Eisenkot's opposition agreement parties are projected to win 49 mandates, and two Arab parties together hold 17 mandates. This represents a slight shift from earlier counts, with Eisenkot's bloc gaining two mandates and the Arab parties losing two, while Netanyahu's bloc remained stable.

Detailed projections based on the counted votes indicate the Likud party, led by Netanyahu, receiving 20.84% of the vote, translating to 27 mandates. Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party is projected to get 16.44% and 22 mandates. Naftali Bennett's Be'yahad party is at 9.14% with 12 mandates, and the United List, including Yusuf Jabarin, Ahmad Tibi, and Sami Abu Shehadeh, has 9.11% and 11 mandates. Yair Golan's Democrats are projected for 8 mandates, while Yahadut HaTorah, Yisrael Beiteinu (NDI), Otzma Yehudit, and Shas are each expected to secure 7 mandates. The Ra'am party is projected to win 6 mandates, alongside Tzionut HaDatit Ve'Zehut.

Two parties, Miluimnikim Ve'Kalkalit and Amcha Israel, are currently below the 3.25% electoral threshold. Miluimnikim Ve'Kalkalit, in particular, needs a significant increase in its vote share from remaining ballots, including those in double envelopes, to pass the barrier.

The bloc of parties aligned with the outgoing coalition, including Likud, Shas, Yahadut HaTorah, Otzma Yehudit, and Tzionut HaDatit Ve'Zehut, collectively hold 54 mandates. The four opposition parties, Yashar, Be'yahad, NDI, and Democrats, have 49 mandates. The two Arab parties, the United List and Ra'am, together hold 17 mandates. With a total of 120 seats in the Knesset, 61 are needed to form a majority government, a threshold neither major bloc has yet reached.

Vote counting is ongoing, with over half a million votes potentially coming from double envelopes cast by soldiers, diplomats, prisoners, and hospital patients. These votes could influence the final distribution of mandates and the standing of parties near the electoral threshold. The Central Election Commission is expected to publish the final official results no later than November 4, 2026.