Netanyahu-led bloc at 54 seats as partial results put Arab parties at 18

With 72.4 per cent of ballot boxes counted as of 10.03am local time, partial results published by Israel’s Central Elections Committee put the pro-Netanyahu bloc at 54 seats and the bloc led by Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot at 48. Arab parties were projected to win 18 seats, up two after Ra’am gained two seats, Israeli media reported. Three parties remained below the 3.25 per cent electoral threshold: Reservists at 2.7 per cent, People of Israel at 1.7 per cent and Charedi Public at 0.2 per cent.