Netanyahu Claims Majority Amid Election Uncertainty

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a “clear, decisive majority” among Jewish and Zionist voters early Wednesday, advocating for a strong right-wing government. This statement came as revised election projections began to lean in his favor, alongside a declaration of a “historic” opportunity with President Donald Trump to address the threat posed by Iran.

Speaking to enthusiastic Likud supporters in Jerusalem after the first parliamentary election since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, Netanyahu expressed his confidence in obtaining a mandate to govern, despite exit polls indicating that neither his bloc nor the opposition had captured the necessary 61 seats in the 120-member Knesset.

He emphasized what he termed a “clear, decisive majority” for the right-wing bloc, asserting that this outcome reflected significant backing for a government dedicated to maintaining Israel as a Jewish state.

“We must establish a strong national right-wing government,” he stated. “That is what needs to be done.”

Netanyahu’s comments followed a series of adjustments to the exit polls, which previously suggested an edge for the Jewish-led opposition, whose leaders had already declared victory.

According to Channel 12’s revised exit poll, Netanyahu’s bloc was projected to secure 52 seats, while the Jewish-led opposition was expected to claim 50, with Arab parties holding 18 seats. Other channels, such as Channel 13 and public broadcaster Kan, projected a tie at 51 seats each for the main blocs, with Arab parties again capturing 18.

On the other hand, pro-Netanyahu broadcaster Channel 14 indicated his bloc could be at 60 seats, while i24NEWS anticipated 55 seats for Netanyahu. However, none of the exit polls provided a clear majority for either side.

All five broadcasters projected Likud as Israel’s largest party, with Channels 11, 12, and 13 estimating it would receive 27 seats, placing it ahead of Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party, which was projected at 21 or 22.

Netanyahu criticized Israeli television networks for allegedly downplaying Likud’s support in pre-election polls, which he claimed was intended to suppress voter turnout.

Earlier that evening, Eisenkot had urged Netanyahu to concede defeat and retire from politics, asserting: “A worthy leader would accept the people’s vote of no confidence and announce his retirement from politics today.”

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, whose alliance with opposition leader Yair Lapid was projected to win 12 seats, echoed this sentiment, stating that “Netanyahu has lost, and the October 7 government is going home.”

Netanyahu firmly dismissed any attempts to create a government reliant on Arab party support. Their representation was projected to grow to around 18 seats due to an increase in Arab voter turnout.

“We must not, absolutely must not, endanger Israel by establishing a government that relies on anti-Zionist Arab parties,” Netanyahu warned, accusing them of opposing Israel’s very existence and supporting Hamas.

Furthermore, he criticized the opposition’s proposed alliances, accusing their leaders of hypocrisy for campaigning against military service exemptions while considering cooperation with Arab representatives who criticized Israeli soldiers.

He urged Jewish and Zionist political factions to join forces, insisting their collaboration was vital for Israel’s future.

Despite the revised projections, both blocs face substantial challenges in coalition negotiations. With Channel 12’s figures, the Jewish-led opposition’s 50 seats, in combination with the seven expected from the Ra’am party, would only total 57, falling short of the majority needed in the Knesset.

Eisenkot may look for further support from the Joint List or perhaps attract parties from Netanyahu’s coalition to form a broader alliance. A Netanyahu-led government, conversely, would also necessitate additional partners unless the final tallies shift the dynamics. There’s even the possibility of a unity arrangement between the opposing camps, but failure to secure a viable majority could lead to another election.

The ambiguous outcome also casts a shadow over Trump’s preferred partner in Israel, whom he endorsed publicly twice in the campaign’s final days. These endorsements coincided with ongoing discussions between Washington and Jerusalem about future actions regarding Iran, following military operations that had severely impacted Tehran’s military leadership.

Netanyahu claimed that the military actions taken during his tenure had altered the balance of power in the region, highlighting the removal of leaders from Hamas and Hezbollah, Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei, and the establishment of Israeli security zones in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria.

“Iran is weaker than ever, and Israel is stronger than ever,” he declared.

Still, Netanyahu cautioned that a weakened Iran doesn’t eliminate the threat to Israel.

“This is not over as long as this fanatical regime exists,” he said, warning that Iran would persist in its efforts against Israel.

Returning to the topic of Iran towards the end of his speech, Netanyahu reiterated the importance of focusing on the threat, urging against political distractions in the face of what he labeled a unique chance to neutralize the danger.

“Israel stands before a historic, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, together with our partner President Trump, to remove the existential threat from Iran once and for all,” he declared.

“We must not, absolutely must not, allow any extraneous considerations to divert us from this sacred mission.”

His words came as new reports indicated that Washington was gearing up regional allies for possible renewed military action against Iran following the U.S. midterm elections, though the White House has yet to confirm any such operations.

Despite his emphatic address, Netanyahu admitted that the final results were still uncertain. The nationwide count continued, with hundreds of thousands of special ballots, including those from soldiers and reservists, remaining to be tallied. He mentioned that the complete results are anticipated within the next 48 hours.

After finalizing the results, President Isaac Herzog will consult with Knesset factions before deciding who should be tasked with forming a government based on who he deems most capable of assembling a governing coalition.

Netanyahu will remain as prime minister until a new government is established, but his political future hinges not only on Likud’s position as the largest party but also on whether he can garner the necessary parliamentary support to govern.