Partial results from Israel’s national election showed the bloc led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holding 54 seats, with more than three-quarters of ballot boxes counted.
With 76.8 percent of ballots tallied as of 10:58 a.m., the Central Elections Committee put the rival bloc led by Yashar’s Gadi Eisenkot at 47 seats. Arab-led parties — the Joint List and Ra’am — rose to a combined 19 seats.
The results remain incomplete and are expected to shift as counting continues. Votes cast in double envelopes, including those of soldiers, are processed later.
Several parties currently sit below the 3.25 percent electoral threshold required to enter the Knesset: Reservists at 2.6 percent, People of Israel at 1.7 percent and Charedi Public at 0.2 percent.
A majority in the 120-seat Knesset requires 61 seats.
