Netanyahu's bloc leads Israel vote count but falls short of majority
Early counting shows a tight race with the Opposition, while Arab parties hold 17 seats; official results are due by Friday.
The gist
Story- Netanyahu's alliance led in 54 of 120 seats as of 4 pm IST on Wednesday, per Haaretz.
- A bloc needs 61 seats to form a government, and no side has reached that mark yet.
- The official results are expected by Friday, after Tuesday's polling.
What's new
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's alliance was ahead in the general election count on Wednesday, but it did not have a majority. As of 4 pm IST, his bloc led in 54 of the 120 seats in Parliament, according to Haaretz. The Opposition bloc was ahead in 49 seats, and Arab parties, backed mostly by Israel's Palestinian minority, were leading in 17. More than 77% of votes had been counted. A bloc needs 61 seats to form a government. Polling took place on Tuesday, and official results are expected by Friday.
Why it matters
No bloc has a clear path to power yet, so the final count will decide who forms the next government. Netanyahu is seeking another term, and the result will shape Israel's direction after a long war in Gaza. For Indian readers, a change in Israel's leadership could affect diplomatic and trade ties.
What others say
The results matched the exit polls, which had shown a close race between Netanyahu's alliance and his main rival, Gadi Eisenkot, according to the same reporting. Neither side was expected to secure a clear majority.
What we don't know yet
The final seat count is not known until official results are released. It is not yet clear which parties would join a coalition or who would form the government.
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