Netanyahu's Likud-Led Bloc Wins 53 Seats in Israeli Election But Falls Short of Outright Majority

Benjamin Netanyahu's political bloc has secured 53 seats in Israel's general election, leading the main opposition Change Bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot, which won 48 seats, with 100 percent of votes counted. Arab parties together took 19 seats, with the Joint List winning 11 and Ra'am winning 8.

Within Netanyahu's coalition, Likud was the largest single party with 27 seats, followed by Yisrael Beiteinu with 21, United with 12, Israel Our Home with 7, Jewish Power (Otzma Yehudit) with 7, United Torah Judaism with 7, Shas with 6, and Religious Zionism and Identity with 6. Two parties, the Reservists and the Economic Party at 2.72 percent and Am Yisrael at 1.67 percent, failed to cross the electoral threshold.

Although Netanyahu's bloc leads the final count, its 53 seats fall short of the 61-seat majority required to govern without additional support, meaning Netanyahu will need to seek backing from outside his current coalition to form a government.