Netanyahu bloc ahead in Israeli election but faces majority hurdle

Netanyahu's bloc maintained its lead as Israeli electoral officials continued counting ballots from the national election, with 51.8 per cent of votes tallied at the latest count. The grouping claimed 55 of the 120 seats in the Knesset, Israel's parliament, positioning it as the largest political force but falling well short of an outright majority.

To form a government, any coalition must secure at least 61 seats in the 120-member chamber. The continued counting of remaining ballots could alter the final seat distribution among the competing political blocs, potentially affecting Netanyahu's ability to build a governing coalition.

The election results reflect ongoing political divisions within Israel, with multiple parties competing across the ideological spectrum. Final results are expected as counting proceeds, after which coalition negotiations would begin among parties seeking to reach the 61-seat threshold.

Netanyahu, who has previously served as prime minister, has positioned his bloc as the preferred governing option for Israeli voters concerned about security and economic issues.