Benjamin Netanyahu has pulled ahead in the Israeli elections with nearly 92 per cent of all ballots counted, leaving his opponents to weigh an unlikely deal with the Arab parties as victory falls further out of view.
Israel’s longest-serving prime minister was on course to win 53 seats in parliament between his Likud party and allies on the right, well ahead of the 48 forecast for the opposition bloc of rival Gadi Eisenkot.
Parties representing Israelis of Arab descent were meanwhile set to win an unprecedented 19 of 120 possible seats, following high turnout from passionately motivated voters in the first elections since the October 7, 2023 attacks and ensuing regional conflicts.Netanyahu won the support of an unexpectedly clear majority of Israeli Jews, suggesting he may stay on in power at least in a caretaker role. If neither bloc can form a coalition government, the existing cabinet with stay on until another election can be called.
The results could still change, but a victory for Eisenkot looked out of reach save for a deal to accept broad backing from the Arab parties, which many Jewish leaders reject.In 2021, Netanyahu was ousted from the top office by a broad coalition, which for the first time included an Arab party, Ra’am. But the government soon destabilised, making way for Bibi to return barely 18 months later.In 2021, Netanyahu was ousted from the top office by a broad coalition, which for the first time included an Arab party, Ra’am. But the government soon destabilised, making way for Bibi to return barely 18 months later.
