The Central Elections Committee publishes the final results in Tuesday’s Knesset election, leaving both the premier and his political opponents once again without a clear path to forming a coalition government, and heralding enduring gridlock and a potential fifth election.
Netanyahu’s right-wing and religious backers have 52 seats while parties opposed to the premier have 57 between them. The right-wing Yamina party (with 7) and Islamist Ra’am (with 4), have not committed to either side.
Netanyahu would need both parties to achieve a slim majority, but cooperation between the far-right and Ra’am’s Islamists appears all but impossible.
Meanwhile, a potential “coalition of change” of Yesh Atid, Blue and White, Yamina, Yisrael Beytenu, Labor, New Hope and Meretz would have 58 votes, also three short of a majority, requiring the support of either Ra’am or the Joint List.
The official results will be presented to President Reuven Rivlin next Wednesday.
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From the Liveblog of
Thursday, March 25, 2021
