With 66% of Votes Counted, Netanyahu Maintains Lead Over Opposition

The latest figures released by Israel’s Central Elections Committee show Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition maintaining a provisional lead over the opposition, led by Gadi Eisenkot.

With 66.2% of votes counted as of 9.20am local time on Wednesday (28 October), Likud, Netanyahu’s party, remained in first place with 28 parliamentary seats, followed by Eisenkot’s Yashar party with 21, The Times of Israel reported on Wednesday (28 October 2026).

By political bloc, the provisional results put Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition ahead with a total of 56 seats, while the opposition led by Eisenkot had 48.

Arab parties, which also oppose Netanyahu but are not part of the opposition alliance, secured a total of 16 seats.

A total of 120 seats in the Knesset are being contested in the parliamentary election. At least 61 seats are needed for a majority and to form a new government.

So far, neither of the main political blocs has reached the 61-seat threshold, making difficult coalition negotiations a possibility.

The results are provisional and will continue to change as the vote count proceeds. Ballots submitted in double envelopes, including votes cast by Israeli soldiers, will be counted later.

The official final results of Israel’s election are expected to be announced by 4 November at the latest.