Israel completed counting ballots from its Tuesday, Oct. 27, parliamentary election, while Ynet’s preliminary allocation puts Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc eight seats short of a majority in the 120-member Knesset.
Anadolu Agency reported that Israel’s Central Elections Committee (CEC) finished the tally and cited Ynet for the 53-48-19 split: Netanyahu’s bloc, the opposition led by former Israeli Army Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot and Arab parties, respectively. A majority requires 61 seats, leaving the opposition 13 short as well. The same overall totals appeared in EconoTimes’ earlier report on Israel’s partial count.
The special-ballot tally changed individual party allocations while preserving the three-way balance. Likud gained one seat to reach 27, Shas lost one to finish with six, Ra’am rose to eight, and the Joint List fell to 11. Anadolu Agency reported that the special ballots included votes from military personnel, incarcerated people, diplomats and hospital patients who were unable to vote at their assigned polling places.
Turnout was 77.7%, the highest since 1999, Anadolu Agency reported. After the official results are released, President Isaac Herzog is expected to consult parliamentary factions. Official results are expected Wednesday, Nov. 4.
