29.10.2026 15:44
Following the general elections in Israel, exit polls showed that the ruling bloc lost its parliamentary majority, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not accept defeat. Arguing that the majority was on their side, Netanyahu called for forming a government, saying, "The Jewish and Zionist majority must come to its senses and unite." Netanyahu, who opposes forming a government with the support of Arab parties, said that together with US President Trump they wanted to completely eliminate the threat from Iran.
In the general elections held in Israel after four years, according to exit polls, the opposition bloc led by former Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot won 52 seats, while the far-right ruling bloc led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remained at 50 lawmakers. Thus, neither bloc reached the 61 lawmakers needed for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset.
NETANYAHU'S FIRST STATEMENT: THE MAJORITY IS WITH US, WE MUST FORM A STRONG RIGHT-WING GOVERNMENT
As coalition uncertainty prevails after the election results, Netanyahu also addressed his supporters at the Likud Party election headquarters in Jerusalem. Netanyahu made statements on many issues, from the election results to Iran, from relations with US President Donald Trump to possible cooperation with the opposition's Arab parties.
Noting that the election results have not yet been finalized, Netanyahu said the actual results will become clear within the next two days. Emphasizing that according to exit polls Likud is Israel's largest party, Netanyahu said, “This is just the beginning. Likud is Israel's largest party.”
Arguing that right-wing parties have a majority among Jewish and Zionist voters, Netanyahu said, “The second fact that has emerged is that the right-wing bloc has a clear and decisive majority in Zionist society. The majority is with us in Jewish society and among supporters of the Jewish state. Therefore, I said we must form a strong, national right-wing government, and I say it again.”
“FORMING A GOVERNMENT RELYING ON ARAB PARTIES IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE”
Netanyahu reacted sharply to the possibility of the opposition forming a government with the support of Arab parties, accusing these parties of opposing Israel's existence.
Netanyahu said, “It is absolutely unacceptable to form a government relying on anti-Zionist Arab parties by endangering Israel. These are parties that oppose our existence, regard Hamas as a charity, and describe our soldiers as war criminals.”
“THE JEWISH AND ZIONIST MAJORITY MUST COME TO ITS SENSES AND UNITE”
Netanyahu also targeted the opposition's political alliance rhetoric based on military service, saying, “How can you speak of an alliance of those who serve? At the same time, you join hands with those who attack our soldiers, the soldiers of the Israeli army. These people not only fail to serve the state, they serve the state's enemies.”
Targeting the Islamic Movement, the Joint List, and Balad as well, Netanyahu called on right-wing parties to unite and said, “The Zionist majority in the State of Israel, the Jewish and Zionist majority, must come to its senses and unite. Because only in this way can we secure Israel's future.”
“IRAN IS WEAKER THAN EVER, ISRAEL IS STRONGER THAN EVER”
Referring in his speech to Israel's military operations over the past three years, Netanyahu argued that his government had changed the balance of power in the Middle East.
Listing the killings of Hamas leaders Mohammed Deif, Ismail Haniyeh, and Yahya Sinwar, as well as Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Iranian leader Ali Khamenei, among his military achievements, Netanyahu stated that they had established security zones in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria.
Claiming that the Iranian leadership had suffered a heavy blow, Netanyahu said, “Iran is weaker than ever, Israel is stronger than ever.”
However, saying that the struggle against Iran was not yet over, Netanyahu claimed that as long as the Tehran government exists, it will try to destroy Israel.
“TOGETHER WITH TRUMP, WE CAN ELIMINATE THIS THREAT”
Placing special emphasis on cooperation with US President Donald Trump, Netanyahu gave a new message regarding Iran.
Netanyahu said, “As long as the Iranian regime exists, it will try to destroy us. But together with our wonderful friend President Trump, we have the power to eliminate this threat forever.”
Arguing that Israel faces a historic opportunity, Netanyahu said, “Israel, together with our partner President Trump, is on the threshold of a historic and possibly never-again opportunity to eliminate the existential threat emanating from Iran forever. We must not let any foreign consideration divert us from this sacred task.”
HE TARGETED THE MEDIA: THEY TRIED TO KEEP VOTERS AWAY FROM THE BALLOT BOX
Netanyahu also criticized media organizations over polls published before the election regarding Likud's vote share.
Recalling that some polls predicted 18 or 19 seats for Likud, Netanyahu claimed that these estimates were published to prevent voters from going to the polls.
Netanyahu said, “Do you remember how propaganda channels shape perception? They were giving Likud 18, 19 seats. They knew from the start that this was a lie. They tried to dissuade you from going to the polls, clearly dissuade you.”
HE ALSO BROUGHT UP THE CORRUPTION INVESTIGATIONS AGAINST HIM
Thanking voters who voted for him and his party, Netanyahu also brought up the corruption investigations conducted against him.
Reiterating his claim that the investigations were conducted for political purposes, Netanyahu argued that voters rejected attempts to overthrow the right-wing government in this way.
Netanyahu also thanked his coalition partners and stated that they supported him in the face of internal and external security problems.
HE RECOUNTED HIS MOMENTS WITH A WOUNDED SOLDIER
Devoting part of his speech to Israeli soldiers, the wounded in war, and the families of soldiers who lost their lives, Netanyahu told the story of a wounded soldier he met during a visit to the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
Netanyahu said that the soldier named Haim, who was wounded in the head and uses a wheelchair, communicates through a tablet he controls with his nose, and that the soldier told him he wanted to serve in the army again.
Saying he was affected by the encounter, Netanyahu recounted that he hugged and kissed the soldier, and then left a note at the Western Wall praying for the victory of Israeli soldiers.
“WE DEFEATED OUR ENEMIES, WE WILL DEFEAT THEM AGAIN”
At the end of his speech, Netanyahu thanked his wife Sara Netanyahu and his sons Yair and Avner, arguing that his family had been subjected to threats and smear campaigns.
Netanyahu said, "I thank the Creator who has given me the strength to ensure Israel's continued existence and to continue working for our one and only, beloved country. We have defeated our enemies, and we will defeat them again," he said.
Netanyahu concluded his speech with the words, "Do not fear, Israel, do not fear! For you are a young lion. The people of Israel live!"
HERE ARE THE SEAT NUMBERS OF THE PARTIES AND BLOCS
According to the exit polls broadcast by state television KAN, the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot finished the elections with 52 seats, while the far-right governing bloc led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu finished with 50 seats. Although it finished the election race ahead, the opposition bloc failed to reach the 61 seats required to form a government in the 120-seat Israeli Parliament (Knesset).
The total number of seats of the Arab parties representing Palestinian citizens of Israel rose from 17 to 18. The number of seats of the Joint List, consisting of the Hadash, Taal and Balad parties, increased from 10 to 11, while the number of seats of the Raam Party led by Mansur Abbas remained at 7.
The Likud Party led by Netanyahu came first with 25 seats, while the Yashar Party led by Eisenkot came second with 21 seats.
The Together List of former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, who are in the opposition bloc, reached an updated 13 seats. Also in the opposition bloc, Avigdor Liberman's Israel Our Home Party won 8 seats, while the Democrats Party led by Yair Golan won 10 seats.
The Shas Party and United Torah Judaism of the Ultra-Orthodox Jews in the governing bloc each won 6 seats.
Among Netanyahu's far-right allies, the Jewish Power Party led by Itamar Ben-Gvir won 7 seats, while Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionism Party won 6 seats, gaining the right to be represented in Parliament.