Israel's high-turnout vote brushed aside in rest of the Middle East

Israel's record-breaking election, called amid the ongoing war in Gaza, saw Netanyahu emerge victorious with a clear majority of Israeli Jewish votes. The election, which marked a major turning point in the nation's history, was a stark contrast to the pessimism felt across the Middle East. In Egypt, a nation that had made peace with Israel in 1979, the 62-year-old Outhman Selim expressed his disappointment, as his hopes for a decisive defeat of the far-right Netanyahu had not materialized.

With nearly 86% of votes counted, Netanyahu's bloc of right-wing, hardline, and ultra-Orthodox parties appeared set to win 53 seats in parliament, surpassing the 48 seats held by the opposition. The election took place after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing over 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. This war had left Israel increasingly isolated on the world stage, facing criticism, particularly from the United States.

Despite his victory, Netanyahu's opponents were left with little hope of unseating him without an unlikely coalition deal, which many Jewish leaders rejected. As Netanyahu addressed his supporters, he called for the formation of a strong, right-wing government and mentioned the prospect of renewed military action against Iran with US President Donald Trump.