With 97% of the votes counted from Tuesday’s election, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud bloc is projected to win 53 seats in the next Knesset, while Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar bloc is projected to secure 48 seats. The Jerusalem Post reports that both blocs have fallen short of the 61 seats needed for a majority without the support of Arab parties, which are projected to hold 19 seats following record voter turnout. Double-envelope ballots have yet to be counted and could affect the final results.
Those ballots allow eligible Israelis, including soldiers, hospital patients, prisoners, and certain election workers, to vote outside their designated polling stations.
According to the official vote count, Netanyahu’s Likud was projected to have 27 seats, making it once again the largest party in the Knesset. United Torah Judaism and Otzma Yehudit were expected to have seven seats, and the Religious Zionist Party and Shas were expected to have six seats.
Most TV channel polling before the election projected Likud to receive significantly fewer seats, while the other parties in Netanayhu’s bloc were expected to gain more.
With neither bloc securing a majority, the election remains at a deadlock that could lead to another round of voting if the parties cannot reach a coalition agreement. President Isaac Herzog is required to consult with the various political factions before deciding whom to task with forming the next government. Herzog has called on politicians to keep an open mind during coalition negotiations to avoid another election.
Meanwhile, the IDF continues its operations against Hamas this week, eliminating four terror operatives yesterday. The military also remains active in the West Bank following last week’s deadly shooting, demolishing the home of one of the gunmen responsible for the attack. Last night, soldiers also raided a major weapons cache and arrested two suspects in connection with the discovery of assault rifles and more than 2,300 rounds of ammunition.
The Holy Land remains at a crossroads, with no definitive election winner as political parties work to negotiate a path forward. As the remaining double-envelope ballots are counted, we pray for wisdom and guidance for Israel’s leaders and those entrusted with forming the next government.