OMM Newsroom
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed a mandate for a right-wing government early Wednesday, despite exit polls showing his bloc short of a parliamentary majority, and criticized efforts to form a government that relies on Arab parties, Anadolu Agency reported.
Addressing supporters of Likud in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said he was waiting for the final vote count but noted that his party was projected to remain the largest in the Knesset.
“We are still waiting for the actual results,” he said.
Netanyahu said the right-wing bloc had a “decisive majority” among the “Zionist public” and urged Jewish and Zionist parties to unite behind a strong right-wing government.
He accused politicians and media outlets of trying to normalize a government supported by Arab lists, saying such an arrangement would endanger Israel. He described the Arab parties as “anti-Zionist” and accused them of opposing Israel’s existence.
Netanyahu also defended his military record, saying Israeli operations had changed the Middle East and weakened Iran. He said Israel had removed an existential threat, but warned that the confrontation would continue while Iran’s current leadership remained in power, accusing it of seeking Israel’s destruction.
A revised “Channel 12” exit poll projected 52 seats for Netanyahu’s bloc, 49 for the opposition led by Gadi Eisenkot and 19 for Arab parties.
Updated projections from Israel’s public broadcaster and “Channel 13” put the two main blocs level at 51 seats each, with Arab parties projected to win 18. Neither bloc reached the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset.
Turnout reached 77.7%, the highest since 1999, according to the Central Elections Committee.
Vote counting began after polls closed at 10 pm local time (2000 GMT) on Tuesday. Exit polls are projections, not official results. Official results are expected on Nov. 4.
