Vote count in Israel: 500,000 ballots could overturn the result.

In Israel, the final vote count for the parliamentary elections could be overturned by over 500,000 ballots still to be counted. According to Channel 12 data, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc is projected to win 53 seats in the Knesset, compared to 48 for the opposition led by Gadi Eisenkot, and a record 19 seats for predominantly Arab parties. To form a government, a majority of 61 seats in the 120-member assembly is required.

The pending ballots, cast by soldiers and citizens who voted away from their registered polling stations, are expected to be counted by Thursday evening, according to Israeli public broadcaster reports. This final count is therefore crucial for determining the actual distribution of seats and the chances of forming a governing majority.

Elections in Israel are held to elect the 120 members of the Knesset, the unicameral parliament. The electoral system is purely proportional with an electoral threshold: to enter parliament, a list must surpass a certain percentage of votes (currently 3.25%). This system makes it difficult for a single party to obtain an absolute majority, forcing the formation of complex and often fragile coalitions.

Benjamin Netanyahu, leader of the conservative Likud party, has been a dominant figure in Israeli politics for decades, having already served as Prime Minister for several terms. The October 2026 elections were called early and took place in a climate of high political and social polarization. The opposition is led by Gadi Eisenkot, former Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), who represents a centrist challenge. The record number of seats for Arab parties reflects greater mobilization and unity among the traditionally fragmented Arab-Israeli electorate, against a backdrop of social tensions. The uncertain outcome, with no bloc able to reach the necessary 61 seats on its own, opens the door to lengthy and complex negotiations to form a coalition government.