Israel elections: PM Yair Lapid concedes defeat to Benjamin Netanyahu

Former Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid conceded defeat to Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday. Lapid congratulated his opponent and said, "The State of Israel is above all political considerations and I wish Netanyahu success for the sake of the people of Israel and the State of Israel."

Netanyahu’s party Likud and its far-right allies won a clear majority and is set to form the next government to end the political impasse that has been plaguing the country. The Netanyahu-led right-wing bloc won 64 seats in the 120-member Knesset - the Israeli



parliament.

The general elections were held on November 1 with the country going to the polls for the fifth time in less than four years. Israel has been locked in an unprecedented period of political stalemate since 2019, when Netanyahu, the country's longest-serving prime minister, was charged with bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

According to the latest updates from the Central Elections Committee, Netanyahu’s Likud party will receive 31 seats, Prime Minister Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid 24, Religious Zionism 14, National Unity 12, Shas 11 and United Torah Judaism will have eight seats.