Israeli media reported that the right-wing party coalition led by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu won 62 seats in the Knesset elections, paving the way for his potential return to political power and a record sixth term in office. According to polls conducted by three major Israeli media networks, Netanyahu's Likud party and its allies secured enough seats to gain a majority in the 120-member parliament, though minor changes could alter the landscape. In a speech to his supporters, Likud leader Netanyahu stated, "We are closer to a big victory."
It appears that the Yesh Atid party, headed by Prime Minister Yair Lapid, is expected to come in second, with forecasts indicating it will win between 22 and 24 seats. Consequently, the "anti-Netanyahu" bloc as a whole has not achieved any victory, according to initial projections from the television networks. Lapid emphasized the need to "wait for the final results" of the legislative elections following his party's second-place finish. He addressed his supporters in Tel Aviv, stating, "Until all the votes are counted, nothing has been decided; we will be patient... We will continue what we have been doing, our struggle for a Jewish, democratic, liberal, and modern state."
Conversely, Arab parties have lost two seats in the Knesset compared to the previous elections. Israeli television samples indicated that the Joint List for Change received 4 seats, while the Unified Arab List also secured 4 seats, although the Arab Movement for Change did not surpass the electoral threshold. The final results of the elections are not expected to be released until later this week. Lapid reiterated the necessity to "wait for the final results" of the legislative elections. He addressed his supporters in Tel Aviv, reinforcing the same message about patience and commitment to their democratic ideals.
