Jerusalem, Oct. 28 -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political bloc maintained a lead over rival Gadi Eisenkot's opposition alliance on Wednesday as counting continued in the country's parliamentary elections, but neither side had secured the 61 seats required to form a majority government in the 120-member Knesset.

With about 84 per cent of ballots counted, Netanyahu's bloc was projected to secure 54 seats, according to the latest election updates, leaving it short of the parliamentary majority. The outcome remained uncertain, with the remaining ballots and subsequent coalition negotiations expected to determine the composition of the next government.

The election, held on Tuesday, recorded a voter turnout of approximately 77.7 per cent, the highest in more than two decades. It was Israel's first general election since the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks and the subsequent conflicts across West Asia.

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Netanyahu's Likud emerged as the largest individual party as counting progressed, while Eisenkot's Yashar party remained its principal challenger.

The initial exit polls had suggested a narrow advantage for the opposition, but revised projections subsequently showed Netanyahu's alliance gaining ground. Channel 12 had projected 52 seats for the Netanyahu bloc and 49 for the opposition, with the remaining seats distributed among Arab-led parties.

The partial official count subsequently indicated a stronger showing for Netanyahu's allies, although the figures remained subject to change as outstanding ballots were processed.

Netanyahu told supporters that Likud had emerged as Israel's largest party and expressed his intention to form a right-wing government. Eisenkot, meanwhile, maintained that the election reflected public demand for political change.

Both leaders sought to establish their respective claims to lead the next government despite the absence of a clear parliamentary majority.

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Arab-led parties could play a significant role in the formation of Israel's next government after registering a strong showing in the election.

At the 84.5 per cent counting stage, the Joint List and Ra'am together accounted for 17 seats, while Eisenkot's opposition alliance stood at 49 seats.

Democrats leader Yair Golan called for opposition parties to work with Arab representatives to assemble a parliamentary majority. Joint List chairman Yousef Jabareen also indicated that parties seeking to replace Netanyahu would need to engage with his faction.

However, Netanyahu rejected the prospect of forming a government dependent on Arab parties, underscoring the political divisions surrounding possible coalition arrangements.

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US President Donald Trump claimed on Wednesday that his endorsement had helped Netanyahu's electoral performance.

In a social media post, Trump suggested that his backing had contributed to a change in the contest's momentum. He also told reporters that he had heard Netanyahu had performed well.

Eisenkot, meanwhile, warned Netanyahu against using national security matters for political purposes while serving as caretaker prime minister.

The election took place against the backdrop of Israel's military campaigns in Gaza and the wider region, with security policy, relations with Iran and Netanyahu's leadership among the central campaign issues.

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Israel's Central Elections Committee was continuing to count ballots, including votes cast through the special double-envelope system used by soldiers and certain other categories of voters.

Approximately 600,000 such ballots were still expected to be processed, potentially affecting the final distribution of seats.

Three smaller parties also remained below the 3.25 per cent electoral threshold, making their eventual inclusion or exclusion another factor in the final seat allocation.

The final tally was expected by October 30, with the official results scheduled for publication on November 4.

Once the results are finalised, President Isaac Herzog will consult political party leaders before assigning a candidate the task of forming a government. The designated candidate will have up to 42 days to negotiate a governing coalition.

Until a new government is formed, Netanyahu will continue as caretaker prime minister. The incomplete count has left the next stage of Israel's political leadership dependent on the final seat distribution and negotiations among the elected parties.

Figures reflect the provisional count reported on October 28 at approximately 5:25 pm IST, not final election results.

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