12:20 Beirut Time With 70% of votes counted, Arab parties are projected to win a record 19 seats, Netanyahu’s bloc 54 seats and Eisenkot’s bloc 47 seats A bloc of political parties led by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has won 54 Knesset seats, falling short of the required majority of 61, after 70 percent of the votes were counted, according to Haaretz. A bloc of Jewish political parties opposing Netanyahu's government received 47 votes, with Arab-led parties reaching an unprecedented combined strength with 19 seats. 10:31 Beirut Time More than 66% of votes counted in Israel, Netanyahu’s bloc at 54 seats and United Arab List wins six With more than 66% of votes counted the day after Israel’s parliamentary elections, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc has secured 54 seats, two fewer than in the previous preliminary results, leaving it short of the 61 seats needed for a majority, the Israeli daily Haaretz reported.The United Arab List has gained two seats, according to the latest figures from the Central Elections Committee, bringing its total to six and the combined tally of all opposition parties to 66. Likud remains the largest party with 27 seats, followed by Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party with 21 and the Joint List with 12. 10:30 Beirut Time Israeli left-wing leader says opposition should join forces with Arab parties Israeli left-wing leader Yair Golan said the opposition should join forces with Arab parties to form a government. “Netanyahu has lost,” he declared, calling for an end to the “racist division of votes between Jews and Arabs.” 10:30 Beirut Time French diplomacy will maintain its 'course' whatever the outcome Whatever the outcome of Israel’s election, French diplomacy will maintain its “course” and continue to push for a two-state solution, with Israel and Palestine living side by side “in peace,” France’s foreign minister said Wednesday. “Our course will not change” whether outgoing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition wins or the opposition bloc prevails, Jean-Noël Barrot said on France 2.The minister declined to say whether relations would be more cordial with the opposition bloc. Barrot nevertheless noted that record turnout showed that “the Israeli people had something to say.” He also highlighted “the performance of the Arab parties, which have achieved historic results.”“This will undoubtedly weigh on the choices made by the next government, because there will be a new force in parliament, or at least a stronger one,” he added. 09:55 Beirut Time Netanyahu’s bloc holds 56 seats after more than 60% of votes counted With more than 60% of votes counted, Netanyahu’s bloc has so far secured 56 seats in the Israeli parliament, still short of the 61 needed for a majority, while opposition parties have won 64 seats, according to the Israeli daily Haaretz. 09:54 Beirut Time Elections held amid heightened tensions Benjamin Netanyahu, who has delivered a series of warning-filled speeches in recent days, again invoked the Iranian threat in a speech last night. Israel has “a unique historic opportunity with our partner, President Trump, to permanently eliminate Iran’s existential threat,” he said, amid growing fears of a new U.S. offensive against Tehran.The election also comes amid mounting international criticism of the conduct of the war in Gaza, as well as settlement expansion and settler violence in the occupied West Bank, under the most right-wing government in Israel’s history. The Israeli military also continues to occupy hundreds of square kilometers in southern Lebanon, as well as territory in southern Syria. 09:53 Beirut Time Intense coalition negotiations ahead The parties are now set to embark on weeks of intense negotiations in an effort to form a governing coalition.If they fail, as has happened several times in Israel’s history, the country will have to return to the polls — an option Eisenkot has rejected given the high turnout. 09:53 Beirut Time Netanyahu’s bloc leads after 50% of ballots counted Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition is ahead of the opposition bloc after half the votes were counted, according to figures released Wednesday morning by Israel’s Central Elections Committee, following parliamentary elections in which the outgoing prime minister is fighting for his political survival.With 50.1% of ballots counted, Netanyahu’s Likud party (right-wing) and its allies were projected to win 56 of the Knesset’s 120 seats, compared with 49 for the opposition bloc and 15 for Arab parties. These partial results could change significantly, as several exit polls put the two camps neck and neck, with neither securing a parliamentary majority. 09:53 Beirut Time Significant gains for Israel’s 2 Arab parties Another major development of election night was the gains made by Israel’s two Arab lists, Raam (United Arab List, a moderate Islamist party) and the Joint List (far left). They are emerging as potential kingmakers, with 18 or 19 seats projected between them, up from 10 in the current parliament.Raam leader Mansour Abbas said Netanyahu’s camp had suffered “a major defeat” and declared himself ready to work with Eisenkot, although the latter has repeatedly said he would not consider such an arrangement.“There is no question of forming a government that relies on Arab parties,” Netanyahu insisted. The prime minister campaigned extensively against them, notably using the slogan “the right or Palestine.” 09:48 Beirut Time Netanyahu calls for a 'strong right-wing government' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his rival, Gadi Eisenkot, were running neck and neck in the parliamentary election but remained well short of a majority. Both said they were ready to form a government, setting the stage for intense coalition negotiations.“We must form a strong right-wing government,” Netanyahu said, calling on “the Jewish and Zionist majority to pull itself together and unite.” After remaining silent since polling stations closed at 10 p.m. (8 p.m. GMT), he appeared in high spirits onstage before supporters at around 3 a.m. (1 a.m. GMT), even singing along with them during an unusually short speech.The 77-year-old prime minister did not mention his rival in his speech. Nor did he claim victory, merely pointing out that his Likud party remained the largest party, with an estimated 27 seats, down from 32 previously, ahead of Eisenkot’s Yashar party. 09:48 Beirut Time High turnout in Israel’s election Israelis turned out in large numbers for Tuesday’s election, the first since Oct. 7, with turnout reaching 77.7%, its highest level since 1999. 09:47 Beirut Time 'The people have chosen change,' Eisenkot says Exit polls initially gave the opposition bloc led by centrist Gadi Eisenkot a slight lead over Benjamin Netanyahu before putting the two camps level, with 51 seats each. That falls well short of the 61 seats needed for a majority in Israel’s 120-seat parliament.Despite the close results, Eisenkot described the initial projections as a “complete lack of confidence” in Benjamin Netanyahu. “The people have chosen change,” he told supporters, pledging to “do everything possible to form a government.” 09:41 Beirut Time Welcome to our live coverage Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of Israel’s parliamentary elections. Vote counting is continuing, with no clear majority in sight as the camps of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his rival, Gadi Eisenkot, remain neck and neck. Start your mornings with The Morning Brief, our flagship newsletter that brings you the latest from Lebanon and the region. Enjoy 7 days of free access when you create your account. Email Address Password I would like to receive special offers from L'Orient Today as well as selections of the best articles. 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