Netanyahu Bloc Leads Count But Remains Short Of Majority
What Happened
As counting continues in Israel’s parliamentary election, neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc nor the opposition has secured the 61 seats needed for a majority. With more than 76% of ballots counted in one update, The Times of Israel projected Netanyahu’s bloc at 54 seats, the opposition at 47, and Arab parties at 19. Reuters says the final tally is expected by October 30, after which President Isaac Herzog will consult parties before choosing the candidate best placed to try to form a government.
Key Takeaways
Arab parties could become pivotal in deciding Israel’s next government because neither major bloc currently has a majority. However, counting is still underway and the final seat distribution could change.