Netanyahu touts Jewish voter support as Israeli election projections leave neither bloc with majority

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed his right-wing bloc had won a “clear, decisive victory” among Jewish and Zionist voters early Oct. 28, though partial results from Israel’s parliamentary election left neither his alliance nor the opposition led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot with a parliamentary majority.

With about 86% of votes counted from the Oct. 27 election, projections put Netanyahu’s bloc at 53 seats in the Knesset, Israel’s 120-seat parliament, while Eisenkot’s bloc stood at 48 seats and Arab-led parties at 19, according to Reuters. 

Neither main bloc was projected to reach the 61 seats needed for a majority. The projection would also represent an 11-seat loss for Netanyahu’s bloc, which won 64 seats in the November 2022 election.

Israelis vote for party lists rather than directly electing a prime minister. Parties that clear the 3.25% electoral threshold receive parliamentary seats roughly in proportion to their share of the national vote, then negotiate to form a coalition government.

The projections remain subject to change as counting continues. Still, Reuters reported that a victory for Eisenkot “appeared increasingly out of reach,” as his bloc of anti-Netanyahu parties, which spans from the center-left to the hard right, fell short of pre-election polling expectations. 

Election officials must publish final results within eight days of the election, making Nov. 4 the deadline.

Addressing supporters at his Likud party’s headquarters in Jerusalem early Oct. 28, Netanyahu declared that the “right-wing bloc has a clear, decisive majority among the Zionist public, among the Jewish public, and all those who support the Jewish state,” though he stopped short of declaring an election victory.

Netanyahu said they “must form a strong, national, right-wing government.” He added that Israel has “a once-in-a-lifetime historic opportunity, together with President Trump, to eliminate the existential Iranian threat,” calling this a “sacred mission” from which his country must not stray. 

President Donald Trump, who had endorsed Netanyahu ahead of the election so the two leaders could “finish the job” in Iran, said he heard Netanyahu had done “very well” and said his endorsement “helped him a lot.”

“It might ​be winning or [a] tie. The tie is sort of considered a win in that case because it's a big chess match,” Trump said early Oct. 28 at a campaign stop in Texas. “I heard he’s doing pretty well.” 

Initial exit polls suggested a narrow opposition advantage, giving Netanyahu’s bloc 50 seats, Eisenkot’s bloc 52 to 53, and Arab parties 17 to 18.

Speaking to supporters of his Yashar party after the early exit polls came out, Eisenkot said Israelis had voted for change and urged Netanyahu to retire from politics. He also warned Netanyahu against using national security to advance his political interests.

“I call on the heads of the security establishment and the civil service: Netanyahu is a caretaker prime minister, ​without a mandate or the people’s trust,” he said, using the phrase “caretaker prime minister” to refer to someone who remains in office while a new government is being formed.

“Remember that you serve only the state and the interests of Israel's citizens. Stand firm in the face of any attempt to challenge you,” Eisenkot said. “Netanyahu, do not dare use Israel’s security for your political needs.”

Once the election results are finalized, Israeli President Isaac Herzog will consult representatives of the Knesset factions before assigning the task of forming a government to the lawmaker he considers best positioned to assemble a governing coalition. That person has 28 days, with a possible extension of up to 14 days, to form a government and seek the Knesset’s approval. Until a new government takes office, Netanyahu will remain prime minister.

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