General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIsrael's election results show Netanyahu is in serious trouble
No one outright won. But Netanyahu did worse than he hoped and may lose office because of it.
The September Israeli election results are in and its still not clear who the countrys next prime minister will be. But the results are the biggest threat to incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus hold on power since he took office in 2009.
With over 90 percent of the vote now counted, the centrist Blue and White party looks to have won the largest number of seats in Israels parliament, called the Knesset 32 out of a total of 120. Netanyahus right-wing Likud came in a close second, with 31 seats.
Obviously, neither one of these parties has enough for a parliamentary majority on its own. Which means they will either have to make some kind of power-sharing deal with each other and form whats called a national unity government or else cobble together some kind of coalition out of the seven smaller parties who made the Knesset. The most important of these is Yisrael Beiteinu, a hawkish secular party whose allegiances are very much up in the air. Its leader, former Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, is widely described as a kingmaker in the Israeli press.
So who will come out on top here? Honestly, no one knows yet. But there is a real chance that Netanyahu will lose the top job even if his party remains in power. Benny Gantz, the head of Blue and White, has said hes interested in a national unity government but only if Likud dumps Netanyahu.
This is the fight of Netanyahus political life and his personal one, too. Because if he loses, he will have no way to protect himself from imminent indictments on corruption and bribery charges. A defeat in coalition negotiations for Netanyahu might not just be the end of his political career; it could be the end of his freedom.
Sounds very similar to the American president.
Vox explains the complexity of the situation.
bearsfootball516
(6,377 posts)IronLionZion
(45,427 posts)to fire up his voters to turn out. He's weakened by this close election but it would be sweet to see him go to prison.
Takket
(21,560 posts)Kicking and screaming will be much more entertaining. Same for drumpf 2021
11cents
(1,777 posts)...that was widely shared (and widely debunked) on Twitter.
The "winner" of the election will not be known for weeks; it will be whoever is successful at putting together a governing coalition. Netanyahu has declined to state that he won't try to form that coalition. He was successful at doing so in a previous election in which Likud won fewer seats than a centrist party. Of course this time he's much more vulnerable (and also more desperate). So now he's implying that he'll seek a government of national unity instead of trying to put together a purely right-wing coalition.
FBaggins
(26,727 posts)Four conservative parties have agreed to act as a bloc and negotiate together. Their combined ~55 seats is not enough to form a government alone... but acting as a party, they would get first shot at forming a government.
With Netanyahu as the head
11cents
(1,777 posts)At least, that's the pattern from the past.
unblock
(52,196 posts)ly, switching the bloc totals."
https://www.jpost.com/Israel-Elections/Israel-elections-results-based-on-counted-ballots-12-am-602045
so, still too close to call.
Johnny2X2X
(19,038 posts)I thought it was speculated, but that there is no agreement yet.
brooklynite
(94,502 posts)...neither of which will accept Netanyahu remaining at PM.
malaise
(268,930 posts)Now send him to prison
UTUSN
(70,683 posts)MaryMagdaline
(6,853 posts)There are only 9 million people in Israel. There are 18 million in Florida. I don't want to hear about how bad we are in Florida.
IronLionZion
(45,427 posts)until a majority is formed which will then select the prime minister. It's quite different in the USA.
HipChick
(25,485 posts)Bye bye BiBi
Mosby
(16,299 posts)Rivlin has a really important decision to make, because likud and BW both can make a case that they are around 55-56 seats right now. The fact that shas hasn't ruled out BW is a big deal.