Israel election results: Netanyahu bloc holds lead with double envelopes to be counted overnight

More than five million votes had been counted in Tuesday’s election, it said.

Both blocs fell short of the 61 seats needed for a Knesset majority without the support of the Arab parties, which at last count had won a record-breaking combined total of 19 seats.

The official vote count reached about 88% on Wednesday evening and only excluded double-envelope ballots, which were set to be counted throughout the night.

Those ballots allow eligible Israelis, including soldiers, hospital patients, prisoners, and certain election workers, to vote outside their designated polling stations. They could have a significant effect on the final election results.

Most TV channel polling before the election had Likud receiving significantly fewer seats, while the other parties in Netanayhu’s bloc had been projected to gain more.

The opposition bloc, comprising Yashar, B’Yachad, Yisrael Beytenu, and The Democrats, was projected to have 48 seats, according to Central Elections Committee data.

Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar was projected to have 21 seats. B’Yachad, led by Naftali Bennett, was projected to have 12 seats. Yair Golan’s The Democrats was projected to have eight seats, and Avigdor Liberman’s Yisrael Beytenu was projected to have seven seats.

Most TV channel polling before the elections had shown the opposition bloc in the lead, and Yashar was projected to be the largest party in the Knesset.

The Joint List was projected to have 12 seats, while Ra’am was projected to have seven seats.

Amid the high Arab voter turnout, the Likud on Wednesday accused the Arab parties of allegedly stealing the election through widespread election fraud, bribery, intimidation, and ballot manipulation. It demanded an immediate investigation by law-enforcement authorities.

Despite the election results, the prospect of a unity government involving Netanyahu and Eisenkot has appeared unlikely. Eisenkot has rejected serving under Netanyahu, including in a rotation government. Other opposition leaders have also ruled out joining a coalition led by Netanyahu.

The political deadlock could ultimately lead to another election, although the parties may still reach an agreement through coalition negotiations.

By law, the president is required to consult the Knesset factions before deciding who receives the task of forming a government.

President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday called on political leaders to approach coalition negotiations with open minds, warning that Israel must do everything possible to avoid another election.

“One thing must be understood, and I said this even before the elections: We must do everything, certainly after yesterday, to avoid another round of elections,” he said. “Therefore, I expect everyone who comes here to arrive with an open mind.”

He was referring to consultations expected to take place at the President’s Residence.

Golan on Wednesday confirmed he would be meeting with “three opposition leaders” on Thursday. In a Channel 12 interview, he declined to name which leaders he would be meeting.

Earlier on Wednesday morning, Golan called on the opposition bloc to form a government with the Arab parties. He said Netanyahu had lost the election with some 55 seats, compared with the opposition’s 65, including the Arab parties.

“Netanyahu lost,” Golan posted on social media. “I know how to count to 120. Sixty-five is more than 55. That’s how Israeli democracy works. Period.”

“We have no future here if we don’t stop being afraid... We must no longer accept Netanyahu’s racist division between Jewish votes and Arab votes,” he added.

Golan said the opposition had won a Zionist majority, saying Netanyahu “should subtract 16 seats” belonging to the haredi parties.

Eisenkot has called for the leader of the largest party in the opposition bloc to become its candidate for prime minister, although no agreement on the arrangement has been announced within the bloc.

He declared victory for the opposition bloc on Tuesday night after exit polls showed Yashar in the lead. Later that night, Netanyahu also delivered a victory speech after polling began showing his bloc with a clear lead.

The political deadlock also raised the possibility of a minority government being formed that could win a Knesset confidence vote without holding an absolute majority of 61 seats. In that scenario, Arab parties could agree to support the opposition bloc. Members of the Arab parties have said anything possible should be done to prevent Netanyahu from remaining in office.

Objection within the opposition bloc to relying on Arab parties could complicate such an arrangement. Liberman openly rejected such an option ahead of the election.

On Wednesday, Joint List chairman Yousef Jabareen said his party was ready to “pave the way for the ousting of the Netanyahu government.” He had previously expressed his willingness to support a minority government if a series of demands were met.

Later, in an interview with Army Radio, Joint List faction chairman MK Ahmad Tibi (Hadash-Ta’al) hinted at his willingness to sit with the opposition.

“The opposition bloc will be able to form a government if it has the courage,” he said. “We are extending a hand and are ready to help.”

The Bennett-Yair Lapid government formed in 2021 was the first in Israel’s history to include an Arab party, Ra’am, in the coalition. It was a highly controversial move. Bennett has since taken a firm stance against including any Arab faction in a future coalition.

Ra’am has sought to be seen as a viable coalition partner. Its chairman, Monsour Abbas, in August said former Yesh Atid MK Yoav Segalovitz would be No. 2 on his list.

The move was unprecedented, as he was the first Jewish candidate to join the Islamist political party. The addition of a Jewish, Zionist candidate to the Arab party’s list has been widely seen as a way for Ra’am to be viewed as a more viable coalition partner.