Img 7490a89e 1421 4d22 A454 3b84dc89e4ed
JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has once again defied political gravity as preliminary election results show his Likud party and religious-nationalist allies on track to secure the most seats in the 120-member Knesset.
Despite months of adverse polling predicting his political demise, the veteran leader appears poised to maintain his grip on power following Tuesday’s tightly contested national vote.
Early tallies from Israel’s Central Elections Committee, covering over 96% of votes, show Likud leading the field with approximately 20.5% of the vote, positioning it to take around 26 seats. Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc—comprising ultra-Orthodox and nationalist factions—held a firm advantage over a fragmented opposition led by rival political figures.
The election was widely framed as a referendum on Netanyahu’s controversial governance, his handling of post-war security challenges, and domestic friction over military draft exemptions. Pre-election surveys regularly suggested voters were exhausted by years of political gridlock and ready for change. Yet, high turnout—nearing 78%, the highest since 1999—fueled a strong surge among Likud’s core base, enabling Netanyahu to beat expectations once more.
Known affectionately by supporters and bitterly by detractors as “Mr. Security” and the ultimate political survivor, Netanyahu has spent decades navigating seemingly insurmountable coalition crises and legal troubles. His ability to rally traditional conservative voters at crucial moments remains unmatched in modern Israeli history.
While formal coalition negotiations lie ahead and double-envelope ballots from soldiers and diplomats remain to be fully processed, the initial results make clear that Netanyahu remains the central axis of Israeli politics. Opponents now face the daunting reality of attempting to assemble a complex counter-coalition or preparing for Netanyahu to begin his landmark seventh term as prime minister.
About The Author
