Netanyahu, 73, is expected to form the country’s most right-wing government in history when he takes power, likely in the coming weeks. Mr. Lapid said he congratulated Mr. Netanyahu and instructed his office to prepare an orderly transition of power. “The state of Israel precedes any political consideration,” Acting Prime Minister Mr. Lapid said in a statement. “I wish Netanyahu success, for the sake of the people of Israel and the State of Israel.” Although the final results were still being counted, Mr Lapid’s concession represents a formal nod that Mr Netanyahu would return to power, securing a parliamentary majority with his religious and ultra-nationalist allies. On Tuesday, Israel held its fifth election in four years, with voters divided over Mr Netanyahu’s ability to serve while on trial for corruption.
More about Benjamin Netanyahu
Israeli election officials were tallying the final votes from national elections today, with Netanyahu looking likely to reclaim the prime ministership with a comfortable majority backed by far-right allies. Image: Yair Lapid. Photo: AP Mr Netanyahu’s top ally is expected to be the far-right Religious Zionist Party, whose leading candidate, Itamar Ben-Gvir, is a disciple of an anti-Arab rabbi and has promised to expel Arab lawmakers. The controversial Mr Ben-Gvirn, who has been convicted of inciting racism and was once declared unfit for office by Mr Netanyahu himself, is expected to seek a cabinet post as head of the ministry overseeing policing.
Netanyahu in a position of power once again
In many ways, the hard work begins now for Benjamin Netanyahu. He needs to form a coalition, and forming a coalition in Israeli politics is not an easy task. It will take at least three parties to come with him and they will all want their pound of flesh and they will all have their demands on him. If only one of them screws up – it may have a problem. But now he is once again in a position of power. He campaigned in opposition and was clearly hurt at being put in opposition by the coalition party that has ruled for the past 16 months. Israel voted for the fifth time in four years and it was finally decisive. Netanyahu is Israel’s longest-serving leader and was ousted in 2021 after 12 consecutive years in power by an ideologically diverse coalition that included a small Arab party for the first time in Israel’s history. In June 2021, centrist Yair Lapid managed to cobble together an unlikely coalition government of liberal, right-wing and Arab parties – but the coalition collapsed in the spring due to infighting. Netanyahu is currently on trial on corruption charges and has turned to far-right parties in a bid to build a coalition after alienating many of his traditional allies.
