Israel count leaves both blocs short of majority
With about half the votes counted, Netanyahu's bloc stands near 55 Knesset seats and Eisenkot's near 49, Ynet, the BBC, and The Guardian report. Both remain short of the 61 seats needed to govern. Likud leads as the largest party, and Arab-led lists hold about 15 to 16 seats.
With about half of Israel's ballots tallied, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing bloc leads Gadi Eisenkot's opposition alliance in projected Knesset seats, according to Ynet, the BBC, and The Guardian. Ynet said that with roughly 2.95 million votes counted, about 51.8 percent of the tally, Netanyahu's bloc stood at 55 seats, Eisenkot's at 49, and Arab parties at 16. The Guardian put similar figures near 55 and 49 with Palestinian lists near 16 after about half the vote.
Neither camp reaches the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-seat parliament. Likud is the largest single party in the early count, with Ynet listing it near 27 seats. The BBC said Netanyahu's bloc of ultra-nationalist and ultra-Orthodox partners still appears just short of a majority, and that early returns were skewed toward areas with strong right-wing support.
Absentee and soldier ballots remain uncounted, the BBC said, so a clear final picture may take another day or two. Overnight, both Netanyahu and Eisenkot addressed supporters and pledged to form the next government. Arab-led lists could hold the balance if both large blocs fall short.
Exit polls on election night had pointed to a tighter race. The partial count now flips that edge toward Netanyahu's camp without locking in a winner. Coalition talks and further counting will decide who can assemble 61 seats.
Ynet said counting continued overnight with absentee and soldier ballots still outstanding. BBC and The Guardian cautioned that neither bloc had a clear path to 61 without partners. Netanyahu called for a strong right-wing government as partial results came in, the outlets reported.
What we know: With roughly half the vote counted, Netanyahu's bloc leads near 55 seats to about 49 for Eisenkot, and both are short of 61.
What we don't: Final seat totals after absentee and soldier ballots, and which partners will join a governing coalition.
Where outlets agree Ynet, the BBC, and The Guardian report Netanyahu's bloc near 55 seats and Eisenkot's near 49 with about half the vote counted, both short of 61.
Where they differ The BBC stresses that early returns skew right and absentee soldier ballots could still move the totals, while Ynet and The Guardian lead with the current 55-to-49 split.