With 85% of the votes counted in Israel’s election, the coalition led by Benjamin Netanyahu is in first place with 54 seats.
However, despite his apparent victory, the Israeli prime minister is not yet in a position to form a government, as he falls short of the 61 seats needed for a majority.
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The coalition led by Gadi Eisenkot holds 48 seats, while the Arab parties, which will play the role of kingmakers in the aftermath of the election, have slipped to 17 seats.
Yair Golan, leader of Israel’s center-left Democratic Party, called on the opposition to Netanyahu to ally with the Arab parties’ lists to remove the Israeli prime minister from power.
“We must no longer accept Netanyahu’s racist division between Jewish votes and Arab votes,” he said in a message. “We have a responsibility. And we have the opportunity to form a government of change, in cooperation with Israel’s Arab citizens,” he stated emphatically.
Netanyahu is buying time, but his options are narrowing
Benjamin Netanyahu has categorically rejected any scenario involving cooperation between the coalition he leads and the Arab parties.
“A strong right-wing government” must be formed, Mr. Netanyahu emphasized, calling on the “Jewish and Zionist majority” to “unite” and make a fresh start.
In order to find a solution to the political impasse he faces, Netanyahu will turn to the right wing of the opposition to secure the remaining seats needed to achieve a majority.
In this effort, Netanyahu has time on his side, as both the political parties and Israeli President Isaac Herzog, are opposed to the possibility of returning to the polls for a second round of elections.
The process for forming a government
If the election does not produce a winner with an absolute majority, a round of consultations and negotiations will begin.
The official election results will be announced on November 4, and according to Israeli law, by November 11, the President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, must meet with all the parties and then mandate one of the politicians to form a government.
The party given the mandate to form a government has 28 days to do so. If the party with the mandate has been identified but needs more time, Herzog has the option to grant a 14-day extension. If it fails to form a government, the mandate passes to the next party.
Source: cnn.gr
