Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears to have fared better than polls predicted, with his party Likud resulting in the largest political force. However, preliminary results show that his bloc with ultra-nationalist and ultra-orthodox parties could remain below the 61-term threshold needed for the majority in the 120-seat parliament.
The vote count follows, while analysts warn the results could change, as votes counted so far come largely from the area with strong support for the right. Election attendance exceeded 77 percent in a race where a close confrontation between the two main camps was predicted, the Telegraph broadcast.
In this situation, former Israeli Army chief and Netanyah’s main rival, Gadi Eisenkot, may find it difficult to secure the parliamentary majority without the support of parties representing Israel’s Arab minority. According to partial results, Arab parties have equalled or exceeded the number of mandates previously acquired, becoming possible determining factors for forming the government.
During the campaign, the majority of Jewish opposition parties pledged that they would not co-operate with Arab-dominated lists, arguing they do not share the same political values. However, if other parties agree to join forces with them, the Arab parties can play the crucial role in creating the majority.
Arab Israeli citizens, who are often identified as Palestinians with Israeli citizenship and make up about a fifth of the population, appear to have participated in the unprecedented number. For many of them, the elections were seen as a crucial opportunity to remove the rightist government from power in the country’s history, which they accuse of inciting racism and hatred.
However, the final result may not become clear for another day or two, due to the large number of votes left uncounted, mainly the votes of Israeli soldiers voting outside their usual voting zones.
During the night, both Netanyahu and Eisencott turned to their supporters and vowed to form the next government.
The rightist block has a clear and decisive majority among the syonist public, the Jewish public, and all who support the Jewish state, Netanyahu declared himself before his supporters, without officially proclaiming victory. He added that the country must have a strong national and right government.
On the other hand, Eisenkot said the public had chosen the change and that the current coalition had lost the trust of citizens. He pledged to work with his partners to form a sinonist, stable government that will serve all the citizens of Israel.
The elections have again highlighted deep divisions in Israelite society. They are seen not only as a vote for or against Netanyah’s leadership, which is facing a process of corruption, charges he denies, but also as an election to the country’s lead.
During the past four years, Netanyyahu and his coalition partners have oriented Israel toward a harsher religious and nationalist policy. In front of the October 7th 2023 attacks, led by Hamas, mass protests were staged in the country against the government’s plan to reform the judicial system. Hamas’ attacks later caused a series of conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran.
A considerable part of Israeli society requires that the country rely more heavily on liberal and secular values. However, according to Professor Tamar Hermann, a member of the Israeli Institute for Democracy, the relative weight of two main camps — pro and against Netanyah — seems to have remained almost unchanged.
Many expected that after October 7th, Netanyah would fall politically, but that did not happen, Hermann said before the elections.
Now the main parties have launched intensive negotiations to ensure the support of smaller forces. These negotiations usually include bids for ministerial posts, budget funds or the implementation of specific policies.
According to Israeli journalist and author Yaakov Katz, parties may try to withdraw MPs from the opposing camp or establish a minority government. However, the process could last weeks or even months, without guarantees that any candidate will manage to form a functional majority.
One of the main issues is whether opposition bloc parties will agree to break up political taboos and negotiate with Arab parties. During the campaign, one of the leaders of this bloc, right-wing politician Avigdor Lieberman, said he would not participate in a minority government that would depend on their support. This reflects increasing distrust and hostility towards Arab citizens following the October 7th attacks.
Mansour Abbas, leader of Raéam party, the smallest of the two main Arab lists, has declared he wants to be part of the next government. His party was part of the diverse coalition that temporarily removed Netanyah from power in the period 2021,2022.
Abbas believes that after the elections possible partners may be more open to an agreement. He said Israeli politicians often take a stand during the campaign and change language after the elections, adding that Arab parties have experienced this before.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu and his allies have launched a campaign to question the legitimacy of Arab parties, presenting them as domestic threats.
The next steps will depend on the final results, which are expected to be presented next week to Israeli President Isaac Herzeg. After that, it will consult with the leaders of elected parties and will seek candidate, which will most likely create a coalition forming the government.
The candidate will have up to six weeks to secure the majority. If it fails, the opportunity could be given to other candidates. If no one manages to form a governing coalition, Israel will hold new elections in the following months and the whole process will start from scratch.
Until then, Netanyah’s government will continue to function in office, but with limited competence to undertake major political changes. /Telegraphy/