Netanyahu Wins, Again

The count of the ballots of the 2019 elections for the 21st Knesset shows that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will form the next government and will become Israel’s prime minister for the fifth time.

The Central Elections Committee stated that some 4,054,700, or 65 percent, of the eligible voters cast their ballot on Tuesday.

Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud – 35

Benny Gantz’s Blue and White – 35

Labor – 6

The Arab Hadash – Ta’al- 6

United Torah Judaism – 8

The United Right – 5

The New Right – 0, teetering on the verge of passing the electoral threshold

Meretz – 4

Zehut – 0

Shas – 8

Kulanu – 4

The Arab Ra’am – Balad – 4

Yisrael Beiteinu – 5

 

Video by Eitan Elhadez/TPSThe main battle was between the right-wing bloc, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party, and between the center-left bloc, led by Benny Gantz and his Blue and White party.

Blue and White and the Likud are tied, but Netanyahu is the only one with chances of establishing a coalition, with 65 seats on the right and a minority of 55 on the left.

These numbers do not include the soldiers’ votes, which are usually more to the right and can give a boost to the right-wing parties, and specifically, the New Right that could pass the electoral threshold, and push back the Arab Ra’am – Balad under the threshold and out of the Knesset.

In his victory speech, Netanyahu noted that the first stood on the stage as the victor was 23 years ago.

“I am very excited this evening, this is a night of a tremendous victory,” he declared.

To his supporters, he said “you brought an immense achievement, unfathomable, facing the biased media and impossible odds, the Likud grew in a dramatic fashion, this is an amazing achievement.”

Netanyahu has already contacted several of the parties which will form his government and has commenced with coalition negotiations.