Netanyahu coalition leads over Eisenkot bloc with 70% of Israeli votes counted

Vote counting continued in Israel’s parliamentary elections, with preliminary results after about 70% of ballots counted showing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition leading with 54 Knesset seats, according to the latest update from the Central Elections Committee on Wednesday.

The results indicated the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot had secured 47 seats, while Arab parties won 19 seats. The committee explained that a majority of 61 out of 120 Knesset seats is required to form a government.

The committee also announced voter turnout reached 77.7%, the highest in more than two decades and about seven percentage points higher than the 2022 elections. Final results for Tuesday’s legislative vote are expected in the coming days.