Agencies | Tel Aviv:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that right-wing parties secured a “decisive majority” among the Zionist public, calling for the formation of a “national right-wing government” following the elections.
However, exit polls suggest there is no clear winner, with Netanyahu’s coalition holding only a narrow lead over the main opposition alliance. Neither bloc appears to have secured enough seats to command a parliamentary majority on its own.
Arab parties are projected to win a combined 18–19 seats, marking an improvement over their performance four years ago. Despite their projected gains, neither of the two main political blocs has indicated that it would invite Arab parties to join a government.
Voter turnout stood at 77.7 per cent, the highest in nearly 30 years, according to the Central Elections Committee.
The final distribution of seats and the ability of either bloc to form a government will determine the next phase of Israel’s political landscape.
