As per Israeli exit polls, Israel’s longest-serving premier, now on trial for corruption accusations that he denies, was expected to secure a small majority of 61 or 62 of 120 seats. In a video broadcast by the Israeli public broadcaster Kan 11, 73-year-old Netanyahu said that it’s a great start. However, exit polls are not an accurate count.
Final results are not anticipated until later in the week. However, the controversy started immediately when Netanyahu’s Likud party warned of potential attempts to rig the results. Many voters were frustrated by Israel’s fifth election in less than four years. Yet participation was announced at the highest possible level since 2015.
Gvir’s Religious Zionism list, rising from electoral fringes to the third-largest party in parliament, rocked the election campaign. When moderate Yair Lapid and his governing coalition Naftali Bennett were able to put together an alliance that, for the very first time, included an Arab party, Netanyahu’s record-breaking 12 years of consecutive rule was brought to an end in June 2021.
Reaction of the Voters
Voters’ worries in a campaign started by resignations from PM Lapid’s improbable ruling were increased street security and rising prices.
Ben-Gvir and fellow far-right politician Bezalel Smotritch have modified some radical anti-Arab sentiments. However, they still advocate for the expulsion of anybody hostile to Israel. These are now Netanyahu’s primary sources of support.
Regardless of whether Balad, a tiny Arab party, passes the threshold for admission to parliament could have an impact on the result because it would upset the allocation of seats and possibly thwart Netanyahu.
