The count from Israel's 2026 Knesset elections is still underway, and Israel National News reported on October 28 a shift between the two haredi parties, the parties of strictly Orthodox voters. With more than 60% of ballots counted, United Torah Judaism had 225,949 votes to 207,694 for Shas, a lead of 18,255. Both parties are still projected to win seven Knesset seats.

If the advantage holds once the count is complete, Israel National News says it would mark a symbolic and political shift between Israel's two largest haredi parties. Shas has been the larger of the two in recent election campaigns. United Torah Judaism, chaired by MK Moshe Gafni, draws its support from Ashkenazi and Hasidic communities, and the outlet points to higher voter turnout in those traditional strongholds as one possible explanation for its performance.

Hundreds of thousands of votes have yet to be counted, Israel National News reports. They include the double envelopes cast by soldiers, diplomats, hospitalized patients and other eligible voters whose ballots are processed separately. The outstanding votes could affect both the final distribution of Knesset seats and the gap between the two parties.

Despite the difference in votes, the parties remain tied at seven seats each in the current partial allocation, and the final results could still change as counting continues. So it is too early to say whether United Torah Judaism will definitively overtake Shas when the count is complete. The final tally will tell.