With 51.5 per cent of the votes counted in Israel’s parliamentary election, the latest seat projection based on actual results shows Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition holding steady at 55 seats, while the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot has fallen by one seat to 49. The combined representation of Arab parties has risen from 15 to 16 seats.

According to Ynet, 2,937,354 votes have been counted so far. Netanyahu’s Likud remains the largest party in the Knesset with 27 seats, while Eisenkot’s Yashar party has 21. The joint list of Arab parties has gained one seat, taking its total to 12, while Ra’am holds four seats.

The figures differ from exit polls. Channels 11 and 13 had projected 51 seats for each of the two main blocs, while Channel 12 forecast 52 seats for Netanyahu’s coalition and 49 for the opposition.

The Central Elections Committee has yet to announce the official allocation of seats. More than half a million votes cast in special envelopes, including ballots from military personnel, also remain to be counted and could alter the composition of the Knesset. On the current figures, neither of the two main blocs has reached the 61-seat majority required to form a government.