US President Donald Trump has credited his endorsement with boosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s electoral prospects as preliminary results from Israel’s general election showed the premier’s political bloc ahead of its main rivals.

Trump made the remarks on Wednesday while speaking to journalists aboard Air Force One, saying his backing had helped Netanyahu considerably, according to Channels Television.

“I think when the endorsement went out, it had helped him a lot,” Trump said.

Figures released by Israel’s Central Elections Committee showed Netanyahu’s bloc leading after 50.1 per cent of ballots had been counted, with projections indicating it could secure 56 seats in the 120-member Knesset.

The opposition bloc was projected to win 49 seats, while Arab parties were allocated the remaining 15 seats in the preliminary projections.

However, the figures remained subject to change as counting continued, with exit polls indicating a closely contested race and neither major bloc certain of securing the 61 seats required for a parliamentary majority.