Netanyahu’s Bloc Leads Israel Count, Short of Majority

Israel’s parliamentary election remained unresolved Wednesday, with partial results showing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc ahead but short of the seats needed to form a government. Neither Netanyahu’s camp nor the opposition led by Gadi Eisenkot had secured a clear path to a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. The Central Elections Committee’s partial count projected 56 seats for Netanyahu’s bloc, 49 for the opposition and 15 for Arab parties. The committee figures were based on votes counted at 6,660 polling stations and remained subject to change. A government needs at least 61 seats to command a majority. Revised exit polls offered different estimates. Channel 12 projected 52 seats for Netanyahu’s bloc and 49 for the opposition, while Kan 11 projected a 51-51 tie. Those projections, too, left both sides below the majority threshold. Likud, Netanyahu’s party, was leading among individual parties, but being the largest party does not by itself determine who can form a government. Counting continued, including ballots cast by soldiers, evacuees and other eligible voters away from their regular polling stations. The final tally was expected by Friday, and the committee...