Netanyahu claims 'decisive majority,' calls for national right-wing government, warns against Arab coalition
Netanyahu said a government leaning on Arab parties would endanger Israel, claiming they support Hamas and call Israeli soldiers war criminals; Eisenkot rules out a coalition with Netanyahu
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said after the polls closed that his right-wing bloc has a “decisive majority” among the Jewish population and called for the establishment of a “national right-wing, strong government.” He said that majority includes all those who support a Jewish state.
“We must establish a national right-wing, strong government,” Netanyahu exclaimed. “That is what we must do.”
In a fiery post-election speech, the prime minister warned against a government that leans on Arab parties. “It is forbidden that we should endanger Israel,” Netanyahu said, claiming such parties are anti-Zionist, support Hamas and call Israeli soldiers murderers and war criminals. Netanyahu called that “shameful” and asked how far standards had fallen that politicians on news channels were “normalizing” and “justifying” it. “The Zionist Jewish majority must join forces. They must unite,” he said.
Neither side appears to have reached the 61 seats needed for a majority as of Wednesday morning. Exit polls have not indicated a clear winner, though updated figures have given the advantage to Netanyahu’s bloc and the political right.
According to the projections, the Likud Party will likely come out on top with 27 or 28 seats, ahead of Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar Party with 21. Naftali Bennett’s B’Yachad was projected to win 12 to 14 seats, Yisrael Beiteinu 7 to 9, and the Democrats 9 to 10.
In Netanyahu’s camp, Shas and United Torah Judaism together were projected to win 12 to 13 seats, Otzma Yehudit 6 or 7, and Religious Zionism 6. Arab parties could win 16 to 19 seats.
In his own speech, Eisenkot said that with such high turnout, “it would be a mistake to go to a second round.” “We have to do everything to fulfill the wish of the people,” he said, promising a government that represents all Israelis.
Several opposition leaders have ruled out relying on the Arab parties to form a government, with Democrats leader Yair Golan the exception. Otzma Yehudit head Itamar Ben-Gvir warned against a unity government with Eisenkot.
Eisenkot has ruled out joining a government led by Netanyahu, even in a rotation of the premiership.