Netanyahu leads Israeli elections with voter turnout at a record high
Benjamin Netanyahu has pulled ahead in the Israeli elections with 85% of all ballots counted, after Tuesday’s vote saw the highest voter turnout in over two decades, reports BritPanorama.
The prime minister’s bloc is on course to win 54 seats, while main challenger Gadi Eisenkot’s grouping is projected to take 49, based on partial results shared on Wednesday morning.
Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party is expected to secure 27 seats, with Eisenkot’s centre-right Yashar taking 22. Approximately 84.5% of ballot boxes had been counted by 12:34pm local time.
However, these forecasts suggest neither party will be able to form a majority in the 120-seat Knesset, leading to potential extended coalition negotiations.
In a notable reaction, Donald Trump has taken credit for Netanyahu’s electoral performance, asserting through a statement attributed to “Irving C. Schwartz” that his endorsement had “turned the tide” of the election.
“When President Trump endorsed Bibi Netanyahu, the whole tide turned, and now, rather than a decisive defeat for a Great Prime Minister, it looks like a big come-from-behind stalemate, or even a WIN for Netanyahu,” the statement concluded.
The final vote tally is expected by October 30, with official results set to be published on November 4. As Israel grapples with the implications of this election, the landscape suggests that coalition talks will be crucial in determining the direction of the government.
