Jüdische AllgemeinePolitics07:45

Netanyahu Bloc Falls Short of Majority in Israeli Election

By Zentralrat der Juden in Deutschland K.d.ö.R.

Translated & summarized from Jüdische Allgemeine by baba

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc secured 53 seats in Israel's parliamentary election, falling short of a majority. The "change bloc" won 48 seats, while Arab parties achieved a record 19 mandates, making government formation difficult. Voter turnout reached a decades-high 77.9 percent. The final results will be presented to President Isaac Herzog next Wednesday, who will then task a party leader with forming a government.

The story in 6 lines · by baba

Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc won 53 seats, failing to secure a majority in the Israeli parliamentary election.
Arab parties achieved a historic record with 19 mandates, nearly doubling their previous representation.
Voter turnout was 77.9 percent, the highest in decades, with 5,716,665 votes cast.
Netanyahu's Likud party was the largest single party with 27 seats.
The final election results will be officially submitted to President Isaac Herzog next Wednesday.
Several smaller parties failed to pass the 3.25 percent electoral threshold.

Netanyahu Bloc Falls Short of Majority in Israeli Election — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

Following the final tally of all votes, the definitive outcome of the Israeli parliamentary election has been determined. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc secured 53 out of the 120 Knesset seats. The parties comprising the "change bloc" collectively garnered 48 seats. Arab parties achieved a historic record, winning 19 mandates. This leaves the government formation process complex, as neither major political bloc holds an independent majority. The voter turnout was officially reported at 77.9 percent, with a total of 5,716,665 votes cast, marking a participation rate not seen in decades.

Netanyahu's Likud party emerged as the largest single party with 27 seats. Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar followed with 21 seats, Naftali Bennett's B'Yachad secured twelve, and the Joint List received eleven. Yair Golan's Democrats and Mansour Abbas's Arab Ra'am party each obtained eight seats. Israel Beiteinu, United Torah Judaism, and Otzma Yehudit each won seven mandates, while Shas and Religious Zionism secured six seats apiece.

The performance of the two Arab-led parties, the Joint List and Ra'am, was particularly noteworthy, nearly doubling their parliamentary strength from ten seats in the previous election to a combined nineteen. Theoretically, these Arab parties could provide the opposition bloc with a comfortable majority, but this hinges on the "change bloc" parties agreeing to cooperate with them. Historically, most Zionist opposition parties have opposed including Ra'am or the Joint List in a government coalition or relying on their support, with Yair Golan being a notable exception, advocating for cooperation with Ra'am.

The bloc supporting Netanyahu experienced significant losses compared to the previous legislative period, decreasing from over 68 mandates to just 53. Several smaller parties failed to cross the 3.25 percent electoral threshold, including Yoaz Hendel's Reservisten-Wirtschaft (2.63 percent) and former General Ofer Winter's Volk Israel (1.7 percent). The ultra-Orthodox party Das charedische Volk received only 0.2 percent.

The Central Election Commission released the final figures late Thursday night. The complete official results will be presented to President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday, following a review of any potential discrepancies or complaints. Subsequently, President Herzog will meet with party leaders to ascertain whom they wish to task with forming the next government.