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Israel’s Prime Minister Wins Election

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received a chance to stay in power for a six-term despite facing corruption allegations as his party held the lead in elections, projections showed.

Netanyahu’s Likud party won 31 to 33 seats, while his wider right-wing bloc received 53 to 54 seats, exit polls released by three broadcasters showed.

That was still short of the 61 seats he needs to form a majority coalition in the 120-seat Parliament. However, analysts suggested Netanyahu may now strike a deal with Naftali Bennett, a rival right-winger whose party won seven to eight seats. He could be a kingmaker.

However, Bennett, a former Netanyahu aide who sought to replace him, remained evasive about his coalition intentions immediately after polling stations closed.” I will do only what is good for the state of Israel,” Bennett reportedly said.

Israel’s center-left made a better showing than expected, according to the polls. But it also fell short of a 61-seat majority in the 120-member parliament, underscoring complicating political realities in the country.

The outcome came after the 71-year-Prime Minister Netanyahu steered the Jewish nation through a coronavirus pandemic with a controversial vaccine program and harsh COVID measures.

In a move watched by other countries, more than half of Israel’s nearly 9 million population received at least one dose of the coronavirus Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

The relatively high number of vaccinations didn’t happen without pressure. Under Netanyahu’s “Back to Life” program guidelines, businesses such as restaurants reopened with discriminatory restrictions on occupancy. Indoor seating is available only to “Green Pass” holders — people over 16 who are fully vaccinated. And event halls, for instance, are reopening only for Green Pass holders. Social distancing is another requirement.

Netanyahu claims his strict coronavirus policy helped reopen Israel’s economy, a view apparently shared by many voters on Tuesday.

Seeking re-election while on trial on corruption charges, an unprecedented situation, did not prove fatal to his chances, commentators noted.

If he does return to power, Netanyahu promised to introduce legal reforms that limiting the ability of the judiciary. Critics say that would allow him to circumvent his corruption trial.

The dominant political figure of his generation, Netanyahu, has been in power continuously since 2009. But the Israeli electorate is deeply polarised, with supporters praising him as “King Bibi” and opponents holding up placards calling him “Crime Minister.”