Block around Prime Minister Netanyahu temporarily leads in Israeli elections

With 55.4% of votes counted in Israel's parliamentary elections, Netanyahu's Likud party leads with 27 seats, totaling 56 with allied parties. The pro-Netanyahu bloc has a seven-seat advantage over the anti-Netanyahu bloc, which has 49 seats. The Knesset has 120 seats, requiring 61 for a majority. Netanyahu called for a strong right-wing government, claiming a significant majority among Zionist voters. Arab parties could play a crucial role in forming a government without Netanyahu, holding 15 seats combined, but cooperation with them is contentious. Netanyahu criticized any potential collaboration with Arab parties as shameful.