Israel an important country in the Middle East. Its democratic norms are exemplary in the region. This is why Israeli elections carry great importance in the region. People have cast their votes and counting is underway. Experts believe that these Israel elections are a referendum for Benjamin Netanyahu.
Netanyahu has become the longest-serving prime minister of Israel. He wants to get people’s confidence for his fifth tenure. However, competition is very tough. His opponent is Benny Gantz. Gantz is a former army chief and belongs to the centrist Blue and White Party.
Exit polls indicate that Netanyahu and his right-wing coalition could not acquire the 61 seat majority. In Israeli elections, 61 seats are required to form the government. Exit polls also indicate the small lead of Gantz over Netanyahu. An exit poll on channel 13 indicates that Netanyahu’s Likud party trails Gantz’s party by two seats. These are unconfirmed results while final and official results will be announced on September 25.
Meanwhile, people have started celebrations in Gantz camp. However, Gantz said that the crowd should wait for final and official results. He further mentioned that he was confident to win the Israel elections. He further argued that the Israeli population has rejected Nitinyahu policies and support the ideas of his Blue and white. On the other hand, Netanyahu assured his supporters that he had started talks with the coalition to form the government. He further claimed that a strong and stable government can serve the Israeli population in a better way. He again reiterated his slogan of Jewish nationalism.
But political analysts opine that the initial results are not in favor of Netanyahu. There are almost 30 parties contesting for 22nd Knesset. Voters’ turnout was very high in these elections. More than 11,000 polling stations were closed at 10 pm. Israeli election commission released stats of these elections. The polling statistics show that voter turnout is 69.5 percent while the turnout of April’s election was 68.4 percent. Experts believe that corruption charges declined the popularity of Netanyahu. To overcome his corruption he is raising the slogan of Jewish nationalism.
When all the parties fail to get 61 seats then coalition governments are formed in Israel. Lieberman has clearly stated that he would not be a part of the government of ultra-orthodox. Gantz has also refused to make a coalition with Netanyahu due to corruption charges.
Party with the simple majority will be offered by President Reuven Rivlin to form the government. Here a simple majority means the party which wins t the highest number of seats. For the simple majority, it does not matter whether the seats are 61 or less. However, the offered party will have to win the confidence of 61 parliamentarians to form the government. If the offered leader fails to show the majority of 61 within the given time, the President offers another leader to show the majority to form the government.
Political experts of Israel believe that President will offer Netanyahu to form the government. However, if Netanyahu fails to acquire the required support of Parliamentarians, the same offer will be extended to Gantz. But if Gantz also fails to form the government the president will push for the unity government.
Palestinian citizens of Israel also have the right to vote. Most of them voted for the Arab Joint List. A large number of Jews also voted for the Joint List. Arab Joint List was divided after the April vote, but it regrouped before these elections. Experts believe that the unity of the Arab Joint List gave hopes to the Palestinian voters of Israel. Palestinian voters of Israel are unhappy with Nitinyahu’s Jewish nationalism policies. They believe that Nitinyahu is radicalizing the Israeli society.
This was all about the Israeli elections. We are hopeful that the final result of Israeli elections will bring economic prosperity to Israel as well as in the region.
