Jerusalem:Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political bloc is projected to win 53 parliamentary seats, following the count of all regular ballots. This projection comes with over 500,000 special ballots still to be counted, as reported by Channel 12.
According to Anadolu Agency – English, the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot is expected to secure 48 seats. Predominantly Arab parties are anticipated to win 19 seats. Neither of the main political blocs is projected to reach a parliamentary majority of 61 seats in the 120-member Knesset.
Netanyahu's Likud party is projected to remain the largest party with 26 seats, a decrease from 32 in the 2022 elections. Eisenkot's Yashar, contesting its first election, is projected to win 21 seats. The Together alliance led by former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is expected to secure 12 seats, also in its first election contest.
The Joint List and Ra'am, predominantly Arab parties, are anticipated to win a combined total of 19 seats, an increase from 10 in the previous election. The Democrats are projected to win eight seats, doubling their predecessor parties' count in the last election. Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu is expected to secure seven seats, up from six previously.
The ultra-Orthodox Shas party is projected to decrease to seven seats, while United Torah Judaism is expected to maintain its seven seats from 2022. Itamar Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit is projected to win seven seats, and the Religious Zionism-Zehut alliance is expected to secure six seats.
Voter turnout was reported at 77.7%, the highest since 1999. However, the final distribution of seats could be affected by the uncounted special double-envelope ballots. These ballots, used by voters away from their registered polling stations, including soldiers and diplomats, are expected to be counted by Thursday evening, potentially extending into Friday.
Netanyahu’s Likud party has accused Arab parties of election irregularities, alleging bribery and fraud, and claimed that illegal methods were used to mobilize voters. They also alleged distribution of envelopes containing cash and ballot slips for Ra'am. The results could change once all ballots are counted.