Photo Credit: Asher Schwartz

Unofficially, more than 90% of the votes have already been counted. Officially, 34.99% of the votes have been tallied and confirmed.

Based on the unofficial tally, the Likud has 32 seats and Blue&White has 33 seats, giving a slight lead in votes for Blue&White. This can still change as the counting finishes off.

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In the official count, with only 34.99% of the votes counted and confirmed, the Likud is still ahead.

Following the traditional ideological division, the right-wing has 56 seats, the left-wing (“Just Not Bibi” camp) has only 44 seats, while Liberman (formerly on the Right) sits on the fence with 9 seats. The Arab party has 12 seats. The Knesset has 120 seats.

The rightwing bloc is larger, but doesn’t have the requisite 61 seats needed to form a government.

Unofficial Results at 90% Count – Updated 2:00 PM
Blue&White (Gantz/Lapid) 33
Likud (Netanyahu) 32
Joint Arab List 11
Liberman – Yisrael Beteinu 9
Shas 9
UTJ 8
Yamina 7
Labor-Gesher 6
Democratic Party 5


Note: In the 2:00 PM update, Blue&White gained a seat, for 33. And the Join Arab List lost a seat, for 11. Not all votes have been counted yet.

If Netanyahu wants to form the next government, it appears he has limited choices in front of him. He must either get one of the small parties on the left to cross the ideological “Just not Bibi” line in exchange for seats, form a unity government with Blue&White, or agree to a rotation government with Blue&White.

It is unclear if Blue&White will agree to a unity or rotation agreement with Netanyahu still at the helm.

It is unlikely that Netanyahu will call for new elections this time around.

Updated: 2:00 PM Left Right Unaffiliated
Blue&White 33
Likud 32
Joint Arab List 11
Liberman – Yisrael Beteinu 9
Shas 9
UTJ 8
Yamina 7
Labor-Gesher 6
Democratic Camp 5
Total 44 56 20

 

Liberman preferred option is to force Netanyahu to step down, and then form a unity government with Likud and Blue&White and without any of the religious parties. The Likud has made it clear that Netanyahu will not be replaced within the party.

The Balad faction of the Joint Arab List already announced they will not recommend Blue&White to the President. Ahmed Tibi said that his party would not join the coalition, and if Gantz wants the Joint Arab List to recommend Blue&White to the President, Gantz needs first to ask.

Otzma Yehudit did not cross the threshold and burned two seats for the right.

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