Netanyahu bloc first but without majority as Arab parties hold balance of power in Israel election
Euronews.com • • world
Key Points:
- Israel's recent legislative election resulted in no clear winner, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc winning 53 seats and the opposition led by Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party securing 48 seats in the 120-seat Knesset.
- Netanyahu's Likud party remained the largest single party with 27 seats, while Arab parties collectively achieved a record 19 seats.
- Netanyahu accused Arab parties, particularly the Ra'am party, of election fraud and foreign interference, urging investigations into alleged funding from Qatar, which Ra'am leader Mansour Abbas denied.
- Israeli President Isaac Herzog will now consult party leaders to assign the task of forming a government, with the designated candidate having up to 28 days (extendable by 14 days) to secure a majority; failure could lead to repeated attempts or new elections.
- The election outcome sets the stage for complex coalition negotiations, and if no government is formed after multiple attempts, Israelis may face another election.
