Israel: Election results show Netanyahu’s bloc lose majority

The formation of a new government in Israel is now uncertain after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political bloc, which won 53 seats in the country’s 120-seat parliament, lost its parliamentary majority.

According to the Associated Press, the final election results released early Friday showed the main opposition bloc winning 48 seats and Arab-led parties securing 19 seats.

AP reports that a coalition must hold at least 61 seats to have a majority in the Knesset, Israel’s parliament.

This outcome means Netanyahu’s bloc cannot form a government by itself, paving the way for negotiations among parties with differing political and ideological positions.

Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, stays in office while the parties consider possible alliances.

The opposition, headed by centrist politician Gadi Eisenkot, might be able to secure a majority by cooperating with the Arab-led parties.

Such an arrangement, however, could prove politically difficult, since some opposition parties had ruled out working with them during the campaign.

A unity government involving Netanyahu’s bloc and some opposition parties is another possibility, though the AP reported that negotiations could be challenging.

The 19 seats won by the Arab-led parties mark a historic result and could give them real influence in shaping the next government.

In the meantime, Netanyahu and his Likud party had claimed that Arab-led parties stole the election, possibly with foreign help. These claims were not substantiated.

“The right-wing bloc has a clear, decisive majority among the Zionist public, among the Jewish public and all those who support the Jewish state. That is what has become clear. A decisive majority.

“We must form a strong, national, right-wing government. That is what must be done,” the BBC quoted Netanyahu from saying to his celebrating supporters.

“The public has chosen change. The coalition of failure has lost the people’s trust. The Israeli public voted against Benjamin Netanyahu continuing as prime minister,” Eisenkot told his Yashar party.

Israel’s election committee described claims of systematic breaches of electoral integrity as baseless, while the Shin Bet security agency said its probe into possible interference was not meant to cast suspicion on Arab voters.

The results are due to be certified and handed to President Isaac Herzog next Wednesday. Herzog will then task a politician with forming a government after taking into account consultations with party leaders.

Should efforts to form a government fail, Israel might go to the polls again early next year.

The new Knesset is due to be sworn in on November 10. Until a new government is in place, the opposition and Arab-led parties could also join forces to elect a parliamentary speaker and shape the legislature’s agenda.

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