JERUSALEM, Israel — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud-led bloc has taken the lead in the country’s parliamentary election, but the outcome remains uncertain as vote counting continues.
Partial results released on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, showed Netanyahu’s bloc with 54 seats, compared with 49 seats for the opposition bloc led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot. Arab-led parties were projected to hold 17 seats at that stage of the count, according to reports from The Times of Israel.
Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, has 120 seats, and a party or coalition needs at least 61 seats to secure a parliamentary majority and form a government.
The results therefore indicate that, although Netanyahu’s bloc is ahead in the partial count, it still needs additional support to reach the required threshold.
The election, held on Tuesday, October 27, attracted significant attention amid debates over national security, the wars affecting the region, military service exemptions and public confidence in the country’s political leadership.
Eisenkot and other opposition figures are seeking to assemble an alternative governing coalition. Smaller parties, particularly Arab-led political groups, could play an important role in negotiations if neither major bloc secures enough seats independently.
The final distribution of seats could change as outstanding ballots, including special-envelope votes, are counted and verified.
Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, is seeking to remain in office, but leading the preliminary count does not automatically guarantee another term. The eventual formation of the next government will depend on the final results and the ability of political parties to negotiate a workable coalition.
CDA News Nigeria will continue to follow developments as the official election results emerge.
Source: The Times of Israel; Associated Press.
