Israel: Netanjahu baut Vorsprung bei Parlamentswahl aus, hat aber keine Mehrheit

Despite all polls, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party did not lose the Israeli parliamentary election. After counting more than half of the votes, his party emerged as the strongest force, ahead of his rival Gadi Eisenkot's party. The exact power dynamics remain unclear at this stage. Various media reports indicate the current ruling coalition has 55 seats, the opposition bloc 49, and the Arab parties 16.

Neither side has reached the required 61 seats to form a majority. After all polling stations closed, the initial view from the three major Israeli television networks was that the opposition was leading. However, this changed throughout the night. Voter turnout was 77.7 percent, the highest level since 1999. The counting process could take until Thursday, and the outcome could still shift by then.

At 3 a.m. on election night, Netanyahu addressed the cameras. "The Likud is the largest party in Israel, there is no doubt about that," he said. He appealed for the Jewish and Zionist majority in the country to unite in forming the government. He also looked ahead to the threat from Iran, stating, "Israel now has a once-in-a-historic chance to eliminate the existential threat posed by Iran, together with our partner, President Trump."