Coalition talks loom in Israel as Netanyahu and Eisenkot blocs fall short of a majority

With more than 70% of votes counted, Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc leads with 54 projected seats, while Gadi Eisenkot’s opposition bloc has 47. Neither side is near the 61 seats required for a Knesset majority. Arab party lists are projected to hold 19 seats, but it remains uncertain whether other parties will include them in a coalition. Both leaders have pledged to form the next government. Results remain incomplete and may change before President Herzog selects a party to form coalition