By Fatma Younis
Partial results from Israel's general election show Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing bloc leading but still short of a parliamentary majority, with 85% of ballots counted.
Seat projections
Netanyahu's Likud party and its far-right and ultra-Orthodox allies were on track to win 53 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, while the opposition bloc led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party and three other Jewish parties were projected to secure 48 seats.
Arab parties emerge as potential kingmakers
Arab-led parties were on course to win an unprecedented 19 seats, but all but one Jewish party have pledged not to cooperate with them.
Absentee ballots and timeline
Between 430,000 and 480,000 absentee ballots from soldiers and diplomats remain uncounted, meaning final results could take another day or two. President Isaac Herzog will then consult with factions and task the leader with the best chance of forming a government, a process that could take weeks.
Rival claims and coalition talks
Both Netanyahu and Eisenkot have declared they will seek to form a governing coalition. Netanyahu called for a "strong right-wing national government" and warned against relying on Arab parties, while Eisenkot said the public had "spoken in favour of change" and vowed to build a "Zionist government."
Record Arab turnout
The United Arab List and the Joint List are heading for record representation due to strong turnout among Arab Israelis, who comprise about a fifth of the population. Joint List chairman Yousef Jabareen said the party was ready to help oust Netanyahu through a Jewish-Arab partnership.
Election context
This was the first election since the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent wars in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. Key issues included accountability for security failures, military conscription of ultra-Orthodox men, judicial reforms, and Israel's international standing.
