Israel Election: Netanyahu Bloc Leads With 53 Seats as Vote Count Nears Completion

As of Wednesday, October 28, approximately 85.6% of votes in Israel's 26th Knesset elections have been counted, with preliminary results showing Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc securing 53 seats. The Central Election Committee reported that over 4.87 million votes have been processed from 11,168 polling stations. The opposition bloc, led by Gadi Eisenkot, is projected to win 48 seats, while two Arab parties together are expected to gain 19 seats.

Compared to earlier counts, Netanyahu's bloc has seen a slight decrease in projected seats, losing one mandate as more votes were tallied. Conversely, the Arab parties gained two seats in the latest projections. The "Miluimnikim ve Kalkalit" and "Amcha Israel" parties are currently below the 3.25% electoral threshold, but their final standing could change if they surpass it with the remaining ballots.

Detailed projections show "Likud" leading with 26 seats, followed by "Yashar" with 21. Other parties projected to enter the Knesset include "United List" and "Beyahad" with 12 seats each, "Democrats" with 8, and "Yisrael Beiteinu," "Ra'am," "United Torah Judaism," "Shas," and "Otzma Yehudit" each with 7 seats. "Religious Zionism and Zehut" is projected to receive 6 seats.

Turnout for the October 27 election was 77.7%, with over 5.69 million eligible voters participating. The counting process is ongoing, with remaining ballots including those cast by soldiers, diplomats, prisoners, and hospital patients, which could potentially alter the seat distribution. Final official results are expected no later than November 4, 2026.