Tel Aviv: Israel’s general election results have left both the ruling Likud Party and the opposition without the 61 seats required to form a government independently, making Arab parties potentially decisive in government formation.
According to the supplied results, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party secured 53 seats, while Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar Party won 48 seats. The Arab coalition secured 19 seats, giving it a potentially influential position in the next government’s formation.
Although Likud emerged as the largest single party, it fell short of an absolute majority in the 120-member Knesset. The support of Arab political parties could therefore become crucial in determining which political bloc forms the next government.
However, securing that support could prove difficult. Both major political camps have faced criticism over their positions on Arab political representation. Gadi Eisenkot had also reportedly ruled out accepting support from Arab parties before the results were announced.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Central Election Commission rejected allegations of election fraud raised by Netanyahu and the Likud Party. Acting Director General of the Central Election Committee Dean Livni reportedly described the allegations as baseless.
Likud had alleged that voters were influenced through financial incentives and claimed that money transfers from Qatar and Turkey were linked to election interference. The party also accused Arab political groups of electoral sabotage.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry rejected Netanyahu’s allegations, describing them as absurd and dangerous.
Party-wise seat distribution (as provided):
- Likud: 27
- Shas: 6
- Otzma Yehudit: 7
- United Torah Judaism: 7
- Religious Zionism: 6
- Yashar: 21
- Democrats: 8
- Yisrael Beiteinu: 8
- Joint List: 11
- Ra’am: 8
