Netanyahu bloc leads with 53 seats as count nears completion amid fraud allegations
Israel's election authorities reported that, with roughly 93% of ballots counted, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud bloc secured 53 seats in the 26th Knesset, as opposition and Arab parties contested the count and the Shin Bet security service launched an investigation into alleged foreign funding of the campaign. Voting began with early turnout at 16. 7% according to election officials.
By early evening, about two-thirds of eligible voters had cast ballots, surpassing the 2022 election turnout and approaching the historic peak of 1973, observers noted. The election also saw record participation, including thousands of citizens returning from abroad and families of the October 7 victims, analysts said. Up to 650,000 special ballots from soldiers, reservists and displaced voters remain to be counted, which could affect the final seat distribution.
