Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister and leader of the Likud party, announced that the right-wing bloc had won a “clear majority” in Israel’s parliamentary elections and called for the formation of a “strong national and right-wing government.”
Netanyahu said today, Wednesday, at a meeting with Likud supporters in Jerusalem that what has now become clear is that Likud is Israel’s largest party and that the right-wing bloc also commands a majority among voters and those who support the Israeli government.
He also criticized reports and predictions before the election that pointed to a decline in the number of Likud seats. Netanyahu said: “We still have to wait for the final election results.”
According to exit poll results (predictions) published by Israeli television channels, Netanyahu’s bloc is expected to win about 55 to 57 seats out of the 120 seats in parliament. In contrast, the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, has been allocated about 49 to 53 seats in various projections.
These figures show that the competition between the two blocs is very close and that neither side alone can secure an absolute majority of 61 seats in parliament.
The election, held yesterday, was Israel’s first general election since Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attacks and the subsequent wars in the region.
According to the information released, voter turnout has reached approximately 77.7%, the highest turnout recorded since 1999.
These elections are viewed as an important test for Netanyahu’s leadership, particularly with regard to security policies, the Gaza war, regional relations and internal Israeli disputes.
In Israel’s political system, winning a larger number of seats does not mean the immediate formation of a government. Through coalition agreements, parties must secure the support of at least 61 members of parliament.
For this reason, smaller parties and political forces outside these two main blocs can play a key role in determining the future government.
After the vote count is completed, Israeli President Isaac Herzog will meet with the leaders of the parties and then designate the person he believes has the best chance of forming a government. That candidate will have 42 days to put together a governing coalition.
According to official information, the final election results are still being counted, and the official results are expected to be released on 4 November.
