With 90% of votes counted, Netanyahu bloc has 53 seats, Eisenkot’s 48; Arab parties surge to 19

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/with-85-of-votes-counted-netanyahu-bloc-has-53-seats-eisenkots-48-arab-parties-surge-to-19/

The Central Election Committee (CEC) said Wednesday afternoon that with 89.8 percent of ballots counted, the bloc led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was poised to win 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset, and the bloc led by Yashar party chair Gadi Eisenkot would win 48 seats, leaving both blocs far from a 61-seat majority.

The picture that was emerging by Wednesday evening was different from the one that had been painted in most mainstream polls in the weeks and months leading up to the election, which had almost all shown Eisenkot’s bloc taking the lead over Netanyahu’s with varying margins, though similarly without anyone having a clear path to a coalition.

The full vote count was therefore due to be released on Thursday afternoon. The final, official election results are expected to be published on November 4.