Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political bloc has taken an early lead in the country’s elections, with preliminary results showing it ahead of opposition parties as vote counting continues. However, the figures indicate that the contest for control of parliament remains uncertain.
According to a report by The Times of Israel on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, figures released by the Central Elections Committee at 5:58 a.m. showed that 41.9 per cent of ballot boxes had been counted. At that stage, Netanyahu’s bloc had secured 57 seats, compared to 47 seats for the opposing camp.
The predominantly Arab Joint List and Ra’am factions were collectively projected to account for another 16 seats. Their combined representation could become important in determining which political groups have the numbers to form the next government.
Despite Netanyahu’s early advantage, his bloc had not yet demonstrated that it could secure the 61 seats required for a parliamentary majority in Israel’s 120-member Knesset. The opposition camp was also short of the numbers needed to govern without support from other factions.
Several smaller parties were struggling to cross the electoral threshold of 3.25 per cent, which is required to enter parliament. Reservists was polling at 2.7 per cent, while People of Israel had received 1.8 per cent. Charedi Public was further behind at just 0.3 per cent.
The results were still provisional, meaning the distribution of parliamentary seats could change as election officials continued counting ballots. Votes submitted through double envelopes, including those cast by soldiers, were expected to be processed later.
The counting process is therefore being closely watched by political parties and supporters, as the final figures will determine whether Netanyahu’s allies can secure enough seats to continue governing or whether rival factions will have a greater role in shaping the next administration.
For now, Netanyahu’s bloc remains ahead in the preliminary tally, but the final balance of power is yet to be determined. The coming results could prove decisive in deciding who controls Israel’s next parliament and forms the government.
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