Israel Polls: Final results confirm political deadlock

In Israel, the Central Election Commission has said that with 100 per cent of votes counted, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party and his natural allies had won 52 seats in the 120-seat Knesset. An ideologically diverse array of parties have won 57 seats. 

In a surprise development, an Arab party, the United Arab List, also known by the Hebrew name Ra’am, secured four seats. It has not declared whether it will support the efforts of Mr Netanyahu to form a governing coalition or those of the bloc of parties opposed to him remaining



in office.

 

It is important to note that Israelis vote for party lists rather than candidates, and seats in the 120-member Knesset are assigned based on the percentage of the vote. No single Israeli party has ever won a 61-seat majority, so an aspiring Prime Minister must assemble a ruling coalition.

 

According to the Central Election Commission, the Likud Party won 24.2 per cent of the vote. The centrist Yesh Atid party of the main opposition leader, Yair Lapid, was second with 13.9 per cent.