The count of the ballots of the second round of elections in 2019 for the 22nd Knesset shows that no party obtained a decisive victory and that the country will now be faced with political instability until one of the sides can pull forward and establish a government.
The Central Elections Committee stated that some 69.4%, of the eligible voters cast their ballot on Tuesday, 1.5% more than the April elections. With 90.4% of the votes counted at 16:00, the results show that the second round of elections did not significantly change the balance of power in Israel’s political scene.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud – 31
Benny Gantz’s Blue and White – 32
Labor + Gesher – 6
The Joint Arab List – 13
United Torah Judaism – 8
Yemina – 7
Democratic Party– 5
Shas – 9
Yisrael Beiteinu – 9
Otzmah Yehudit – 0, failed to pass the electoral threshold.
The main battle is between the right-wing bloc, led by Netanyahu and his Likud party, and between the center-left bloc, led by Gantz and his Blue and White party.
Blue and White and the Likud are tied, but Netanyahu may have better chances of establishing a coalition. On the other hand, President Reuven Rivlin may task Gantz with forming a government following his slight lead over the Likud.
One option being discussed is the formation of a unity government in various configurations.
Member of Knesset Avigdor Liberman, with his nine mandates, could serve as the king-maker who will decide the identity of the next prime minister. He is calling for a broad liberal government which would exclude religious and Ultra-Orthodox elements.
These numbers do not include the soldiers’ votes, which are usually more to the right and can give a boost to the right-wing parties.
