Likud leads after about one million votes counted

Early results published by Israeli media showed Likud leading with 24.1% of the vote, followed by the Yashar party with 16.1%, after nearly one million ballots were counted in the Knesset election.

Israel's Knesset has 120 seats, and any governing coalition needs at least 61 to win a confidence vote. Early results are therefore an important but not decisive indicator in a proportional system where votes are spread across many lists.

Seats are allocated only among lists that pass the 3.25% electoral threshold, which can change the final picture once counting is complete, especially for smaller parties close to that line.

Once official results are announced, attention will turn to the president's consultations with the parliamentary blocs to task the candidate with the best chance of forming a government.