Israeli Central Election Committee to Publish Official Results
Today is the deadline for Israel’s Central Election Committee to finalize and publish election results.
Following the official announcement of the election results, former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has returned to power and begun talks to form the Israeli government. Securing 65 out of 120 seats, Netanyahu’s bloc comprised the Likud party, Shas, United Torah Judaism and the Religious Zionism party.
Following the collapse of the fragile anti-Netanyahu coalition led by Naftali Bennet, Netanyahu was tasked with uniting all parties favorable to his platform including radical leaders Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich ahead of elections. Despite controversy surrounding both leaders’ use of incendiary language, Netanyahu will be dependent on their support and on Monday met with Ben-Gvir for the first round of coalition negotiations. At the meetings, Ben-Gvir demanded to be appointed public security minister.
Netanyahu is expected to appoint Ben-Gvir for high office as well as other allies who supported his electoral run. Despite a more conservative government, Netanyahu will have to work in order to get his bloc to cooperate towards a more aggressive right-wing nationalist agenda composed of heightened advocacy for Israeli rights in the West Bank and aggressive foreign policy against rival Iran.
