Two days after the Israeli parliamentary election, the preliminary results indicate that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party secured 27 seats. The Central Election Committee announced on Thursday that the Likud Party is now the strongest single party.
Netanyahu’s political bloc has reached a total of 53 seats, while the opposition alliance-comprising Social Democrats, Liberals, and centrists led by former General Gadi Eizenkot-achieved 48 seats. With the Knesset having 120 seats in total, both blocs require a majority of 61 seats to form a government.
The Arab parties, which received 19 seats according to the initial count, may play a decisive role in the coalition negotiations. However, most opposition leaders have already ruled out cooperating with these Arab parties.
The Central Election Committee reported that voter turnout reached its highest level since 1973. Smaller right-wing parties, such as Ofer Winter’s People of Israel and Yoaz Hendel’s Reservists Economic Party, failed to cross the 3.25 percent threshold, which could further complicate Netanyahu’s attempts to secure a majority.
Furthermore, a unified government between Netanyahu and Eizenkot appears unlikely, as Eizenkot has rejected any cooperation with Netanyahu. Other opposition leaders have also excluded the possibility of a coalition led by the former Prime Minister.
