Photo by Gil Tanenbaum/TPS-IL on 28 October, 2026

Live Updates: With 66% of Votes Counted, Netanyahu Bloc at 56 Seats, Eisenkot Bloc at 48

Public • By TPS-IL • 28 October, 2026

Jerusalem, 28 October, 2026 (TPS-IL) -- The Press Service of Israel is providing live updates as Israel counts ballots from Tuesday’s election.

10:10 a.m. Netanyahu Bloc Holds Lead With 66% of Votes Counted

With 66% of the vote counted as of 10:00 a.m., Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc holds 54 seats, Gadi Eisenkot’s camp has 48, and two Arab parties combine for 18 seats.

9:45 a.m. Yair Golan Urges Opposition to Form Government with Arab Parties

Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats, called on Wednesday for his political partners to stop fearing a government formed with the support of Arab parties, declaring that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had lost the election.

“We have a majority. We have a responsibility. And we have an opportunity to establish a government of change in partnership with Arab citizens of Israel,” Golan said. “Netanyahu lost. I know how to count to 120. Sixty-five is more than 55. That is how Israeli democracy works. Period.”

Golan also criticized the Haredi parties in Netanyahu’s bloc, arguing thatn their 16 lawmakers represent non-Zionist parties. He said the opposition could claim a Zionist majority of 49 to 39.

“Now we need courage. We need leadership. We must stop being afraid and start acting,” Golan declared. “A government of change now!”

Democrats chair Yair Golan outside his polling station in Rosh HaAyin, Oct 27, 2026. Photo Yossi Zeliger – TPS

9:30 a.m. With 60% of Votes Counted, Netanyahu Bloc at 56 Seats, Eisenkot Bloc at 48

With 3,413,319 votes counted, preliminary results from Israel’s 26th Knesset election give Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc 56 seats, compared with 48 for the bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot. Arab parties hold a combined 16 seats, according to the partial count.

The Likud leads all parties with 28 seats, followed by Eisenkot’s Yashar! party with 21. The Joint List stands at 12 seats, while Naftali Bennett’s Together party has 11.

The Democrats, United Torah Judaism and Yisrael Beiteinu each hold eight seats. Shas and Otzma Yehudit have seven seats apiece, while Religious Zionism and Zehut receive six.

The United Arab List (Ra’am) stands at four seats, below the 3.25% electoral threshold if the count translates into final results. The figures remain preliminary as vote counting continues.

Benjamin Netanyahu at the Likud headquarters at the International Convention Center (Binyanei HaUma) in Jerusalem. Photo Gil Tenenbaum – TPS

8:25 am. Nearly 80% of Israeli Military Personnel Voted in Knesset Elections

The Israel Defense Forces said 79.9% of all service members voted in yesterday’s elections, an increase of 6.2% from the last election in 2022.

8:20 a.m With 51.8% of Ballots Counted, Netanyahu’s Bloc Holds 56 Seats

With 50.1% of ballots counted as of 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party was leading with 27 seats in the Knesset, according to the Central Election Committee.

The Yashar! party, led by Gadi Eisenkot, was projected to win 21 seats, followed by former prime minister Naftali Bennett’s Beyachad party with 11.

The results put Netanyahu’s political bloc at 56 seats, compared with 49 for the bloc led by Eisenkot, leaving both short of the 61 seats needed for a parliamentary majority in the 120-seat Knesset.

The Democrats were on nine seats, Yisrael Beiteinu on eight, and Otzma Yehudit and Shas on seven each. Religious Zionism-Identity was on six seats.

The Arab parties collectively held 15 seats, with the Joint List on 11 and Ra’am on four.

The committee had counted 2,854,332 votes by 8:30 a.m.

3:20 a.m. Netanyahu: ‘We Must Establish a Strong Right-Wing National Goverment’

“We must establish a strong right-wing national government. We must not endanger Israel and establish a government that relies on anti-Zionist Arab governments that see Hamas as a charitable organization and call our soldiers war criminals,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in his post-election speech to the nation. He added, “Are you talking about an alliance with those who serve with them? Shame and disgrace. The Jewish and Zionist majority must come to their senses and unite. Only in this way will we ensure the future of the State of Israel.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses supporters at the Likud party’s election night event on Oct. 27, 2026. Photo by Gil Tanenbaum/TPS-IL

1:25 a.m. Eisenkot Rules Out Another Election, Vows to Seek Governing Majority

Yashar! party chairman Gadi Eisenkot said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a larger Zionist majority, despite the preliminary nature of exit polls.

“Millions of Israelis are fed up with the culture of lies, omissions, and the culture of blaming,” Eisenkot said, adding that a “proper leader would have announced his resignation.” Eisenkot pledged to work with his partners to form a new government, saying another election would be a mistake.