Netanyahu’s Likud won 32 seats in the Knesset, but it needs to negotiate with its partners to form a coalition.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party won the parliamentary elections in Israel and received a majority of votes – 32 mandates out of 120 in the Knesset (parliament). So, former Prime Minister Netanyahu returned to his post again.
The day before, when the results of the elections became clear, the current Prime Minister of Israel, Yair Lapid, congratulated Netanyahu on his victory and ordered to prepare the transfer of power to the new government. This election ended the political crisis in Israel that began in 2019. Then, Netanyahu, as prime minister, was accused of corruption. At the same time, the trial in those cases is still ongoing: the next hearing will be held on November 7.
Yesterday, after announcing the results of the exit polls, Netanyahu addressed his supporters and said that his future government is up to all Israeli citizens. What his victory means for Ukraine and Russia, is understandable Correspondent.net.
Key to Netanyahu’s return
As a result of these elections, the Israeli parliament remains relatively fragmented. Likud Netanyahu won 32 seats, the centrist party Yesh Atid Yair Lapid – 24, the ultra-nationalist party Religious Zionism – 14, the center-right National Unity Party of current Defense Minister Benny Gantz – 12 .
Two more ultra-Orthodox Jews received 11 and 7 seats, a secular nationalist party – 6, two Israeli Arab parties – 5 each, and Labor – 4 seats.
Netanyahu has yet to negotiate with his partners to win a majority, but is expected to form a coalition in the coming weeks. In place of the main partner, Netanyahu tipped the Religious Zionism party. The leaders of the RS – Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich – have anti-Arab rhetoric. The first advocated the deportation of citizens for “disloyalty” to the Jewish state, the second proposed banning Arab parties. Note that ethnic Arabs make up about 20% of Israel’s population.
Ben-Gvir is a fan of the ultra-nationalist Meir Kahane, whose organization is banned in Israel and declared a terrorist organization by the United States. For Israeli Arabs, as well as for Jews of left and center views, the integration of Religious Zionism into the Netanyahu government will be a very unpleasant event. In addition, it could add tension to Israel’s relationship with both the Palestinian territories and its Arab allies and with the US and Europe.
At the same time, Bezalel Smotrich wants to be the Minister of Defense, and Itamar Ben-Gvir demands the portfolio of the Minister of Public Security.
Weapons or negotiations
During the election race, Netanyahu did not raise the topic of the war in Ukraine. The situation changed after the transfer of Iranian drones to Russia. In an exclusive interview with USA TODAY, Netanyahu expressed his willingness to consider the supply of defensive weapons to Kyiv, thereby noting the rejection of his previous support for the Russian Federation. Netanyahu also expressed his expectation that he may be asked to intervene in negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.
“If I become prime minister, this issue (of mediation) will probably come up again,” he said at the time.
Netanyahu also said that Russian President Vladimir Putin “is guided by his vision to recreate the great Russian kingdom.”
“And I hope he changes his mind about it,” he said. – But I don’t want to play a psychologist. I want to be the prime minister, get all the information and then make decisions about what and if we should do something in this conflict that goes beyond what has been done so far.”
Meanwhile, the current Prime Minister of Israel, Yair Lapid, warned that the Russian-Iranian military cooperation in Ukraine poses an international risk: “We naturally believe that relations between Russia and Iran are a serious problem not only for in Israel, but also for Ukraine, Europe and around the world.”
“Iran is a dangerous terrorist state, and the fact that Russia is doing business with it puts the whole world at risk,” he added in an interview with Russian-language RTVI.
On Thursday, after the Likurd Party’s victory in the Knesset elections, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Netanyahu and expressed hope for cooperation.
According to Zelensky, Ukraine and Israel have common values and challenges that now require effective cooperation: “We hope that together with the new Israeli government we will open a new page in cooperation for the benefit of our friendly peoples !”
Kyiv is ready to cooperate
Ukrainian Ambassador to Israel Yevhen Korniychuk sees “certain requirements” that Israel could change its position on military aid.
“I will remind you that during the election campaign, Netanyahu said that he would consider reviewing Israel’s policy regarding military aid to Ukraine. Of course, in political language this does not mean anything concrete. However, there are some necessary for this position and I want to believe that Together we will be able to change it,” said Korniychuk in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
According to Korniychuk, as soon as a government is formed there in Israel, Ukraine will begin to “move to areas that interest us, first of all, of course, military-technical cooperation.”
“How active it will continue with the Netanyahu government, if he can form it, we will see when the Netanyahu government is formed,” Korniychuk said and stressed that Ukraine will cooperate with any Israeli political force that is legally elected.
Russia’s position
Russian experts believe that the supply of Iranian drones to the Russian Federation will not be a problem for Moscow’s relations with Tel Aviv. In Russia, they believe that they have many points of contact with Israel, especially in Syria, and do not create obstacles for the actions of the IDF Air Force (Israel Defense Forces).
Moscow analysts agree that Israel, although it remains the main ally of the US in the region, “will not risk its established relations with Russia and will continue to avoid harsh statements against Moscow.” Whether such a position has any basis will become clear in the near future.
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Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.