Veteran Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is leading his opponent, former military leader Gadi Eisenkot, according to partial results of Israel’s general election, although he still lacks a majority in parliament. Netanyahu’s Likud party and its far-right and ultra-Orthodox Jewish partners were on course to secure 53 seats in the 120-seat Knesset with 85% of the votes counted. Three additional Jewish opposition groups in Eisenkot’s coalition, together with his Yashar party, were scheduled for 48. The two leaders have declared that they will attempt to establish a coalition for governance.
All but one of the Jewish parties have promised not to cooperate with Arab-led parties, who are expected to win an unprecedented 19 seats and potentially become kingmakers. It may yet take a day or two for the final election results to be announced because between 430,000 and 480,000 absentee ballots from military and diplomats have not yet been counted. Following their confirmation, President Isaac Herzog will speak with all political parties and invite the leader he thinks has the best chance of forming a cabinet. This process may take weeks. There would eventually need to be another election if they are unsuccessful.
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