The counting of votes in Israel's election has confirmed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud as the largest party in the next Knesset, but left his right-wing bloc short of a parliamentary majority.
According to official figures released by Israel's Central Elections Committee (CEC), cited by Jerusalem Post, Netanyahu's bloc secured 53 seats, while the opposition bloc seeking to replace him won 48. The results leave both sides well short of the 61 seats required for a majority in the 120-member Knesset, with Arab parties emerging as crucial players after winning a combined 19 seats.
The final tally, which included the remaining double-envelope ballots, confirmed Likud's position as the largest party with 27 seats. United Torah Judaism and Otzma Yehudit won seven seats each, while Shas and the Religious Zionist Party secured six apiece. The results differed from several pre-election television polls, which had projected fewer seats for Likud and stronger performances by some of its allies.
With neither camp able to command a majority on its own, attention will now turn to coalition-building efforts and the possibility of a minority or unity government.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog is expected to consult party representatives after the formal publication of the final results before nominating a candidate he believes has the best chance of forming a government. If the candidate fails, another leader could be given an opportunity. Failure to complete the process within the stipulated timeframe could eventually trigger another election.
A unity government involving Likud and opposition parties such as Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar, Naftali Bennett's Together faction and Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beytenu could command 66 seats. However, such an arrangement appears unlikely at present, given the opposition's campaign pledge to remove Netanyahu from power and his dependence on far-right and ultra-Orthodox allies.
The Arab parties' combined tally could also prove decisive if Eisenkot's bloc attempts to form a minority government with their support from outside the coalition.
The final count comes amid allegations of election interference and voter fraud. CEC chairman Noam Sohlberg asked Shin Bet chief David Zini to investigate suspicions that foreign entities may have attempted to influence voting in the Arab sector. However, the committee said there was no basis for claims of systematic damage to the election's integrity.
Source: ToI
-Agencies
