Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed on Wednesday that his right-wing bloc enjoys a "clear and decisive majority" in the Knesset elections held on Tuesday, calling for the formation of a "strong national right-wing government."
This came in a speech delivered by the Likud party leader to a gathering of his party's supporters in occupied Jerusalem, according to Channel 12. Netanyahu, wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes in the Gaza Strip since 2023, said: "We are still waiting for the actual results. Likud is the largest party."
He added that "the right-wing bloc enjoys a clear and decisive majority among the Zionist public and the entire Jewish public." He continued: "We must form a strong national right-wing government, and a government relying on anti-Zionist Arab parties must not be formed."
Vote Count Results
On Wednesday morning, the Central Elections Committee announced that 51.8 percent of votes had been counted, with Netanyahu's camp winning 55 seats, compared to 49 for the Jewish opposition led by Yesh Atid party leader Gadi Eisenkot, and 16 for Arab parties. Any camp needs at least 61 seats out of 120 in the Knesset to form a government to replace Netanyahu's current government, which has been in place since late 2022.
Government Formation Scenarios
If forming a regular coalition government proves impossible, three other scenarios emerge: forming a unity government, a minority government, or returning to the polls after several months. Both Netanyahu and Eisenkot agree on rejecting the establishment of a Palestinian state, despite UN resolutions stipulating its creation under the "two-state solution" principle.
The Iranian File
Netanyahu touched upon the Iranian file, stating: "Israel stands before a unique historical opportunity, in cooperation with our main partner (American Donald) Trump, to remove the existential threat from Iran once and for all." Since June 2025, Tel Aviv has launched two wars on Iran, which retaliated with attacks on Israel using ballistic missiles and drones.
Washington and Tel Aviv accuse Tehran of possessing nuclear and missile programs that threaten Israel and US-friendly countries, while Iran states its nuclear program is peaceful. Israel, which occupies Palestine and territories in Lebanon and Syria, is the only country in the region possessing an officially undisclosed nuclear arsenal.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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