The final result of the Israeli elections, as published after several re-checks, on April 16th show a tie between the “Likud” party led by Benjamin Netanyahu and the “Blue and White” Party led by former Chief of Army Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid. The Parties have 35 seats each out of the 120 seats in the Israel Parliament, the Knesset. The parties that are considered part of the right wing bloc have received seat in the Knesset than the center and left. The union of right wing parties 5 seats, Israel Beytenu 5 seats and Kulanu 4 seats. The two ultra-Orthodox parties who traditional support the right side of the political map got together 16 seats (8 each). All the parties mentioned above parties create, what is referred to as a right wing bloc that has together 65 seats (54% of parliament).
On the left and center-left side- The labor party “Avoda” receive 6 seats, a sharp drop from the 24 seats it held in the previous Knesset, “Merez” party received 4 seat, “Hadash- Taal” 6 sear and “Balad – Raam” with 4 seats.
As instructed by article 7 of the Israeli Basic Law “The Government”, President Rivlin has held consultations with all the parties and asked them who do they nominate to form they government. As most parties nominated Benjamin Netanyahu, the president has, yesterday April 17th, asked Netanyahu to start forming the government. Netanyahu has now 28 days with the possibility for another 14 day extension to present his government, ministers’ structure and policy lines to the Knesset.
Netanyahu has several options at hand for forming a government. The most likely one according to press commentator is one of 65 Knesset members’ support with the parties of the right wing bloc and the ultra-orthodox parties. Another theoretical option is to join forces with the “blue and white” party and join in some of the more center oriented parties from the right wing bloc such as Kulanu. This can form a stable government with support of 79 (65.8%) Knesset members, however there might be some serious ideological clashed between the two big parties.
Voting in Israel is not mandatory as it is in Belgium, Greece and Luxembourg. The voting rate in these election was 67.9% a drop in comparison to the 72.34% of the elections of 2015 and similar to the 67.7% of the 2013 elections.