With over 2 million votes counted, Likud-led bloc continues to hold lead

Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-religious bloc continues to lead as the Central Elections Committee count ballots.

The committee has tallied 2,147,301 votes during the overnight count, amounting to 44.4 percent of the total.

The ongoing count is not representative of the overall vote since ballots come in from different areas of the country at different times, and the percentages allotted to each party will likely shift as the tally continues.

The left-wing Meretz party is currently on the edge of the 3.25 percent vote minimum needed to win Knesset representation with 3.24%, although some pollsters have predicted the party will pass and win around 4-5 seats in the final tally.

The Arab Balad party is also just under the threshold with 3.11% of total votes.

If either Balad or Meretz fails to win Knesset representation it will further boost Netanyahu’s prospects for forming a coalition.

Based on the current vote count, Netanyahu’s right-religious bloc would pick up 68 seats, though this number will change as more ballots are processed.

Exit polls have predicted 62 seats for Netanyahu’s bloc, enough to secure a majority and form a coalition in the 120-seat Knesset.