Netanyahu Likely to Remain in Power After Israeli Election

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, has managed to hold on to power after a stronger-than-expected performance in Israel’s elections.

Election officials have not yet finalized the count, but the results are considered clear. Netanyahu's party, Likud, is expected to win 53 seats in the 120-seat parliament.

The main opposition group, led by Gadi Eisenkot, is projected to win 48 seats, making it the second-largest bloc. Netanyahu's party saw a decline in votes compared to the 2022 elections but remains the most popular.

Netanyahu defied the predictions of pollsters and markets with his performance on Tuesday.

Polls had suggested Eisenkot’s bloc would probably win, even if it was unlikely to get a majority of seats in the Knesset. Prediction markets had Eisenkot as the favorite since July, giving him a roughly 50% chance of being the next prime minister, versus 30% for Netanyahu.

Netanyahu sounded almost desperate, taking to social media with incendiary comments about Arabs voting in huge numbers. He told his supporters Israel would cease to be a Jewish state if they didn’t rush to the polls.

He urged his supporters to 'Make sure everyone comes: grandpa, grandma, uncle and aunt, the neighbours. Nobody stays home. No beach, no barbecue. Go out and vote.'

There is a chance Netanyahu could convince some members of Eisenkot’s bloc to join him in a government. Conversely, Eisenkot might form a coalition with Israel’s Arab parties or — less likely — he puts his animosity with Netanyahu aside and they rule together.

There’s a high likelihood all those efforts fail and Israel ends up going to the polls again in a few months.