https://www.bbc.com/russian/news-63480207
Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is returning to power after a pending general election tally showed he is on track to win a parliamentary majority with the help of the far right. Preliminary results show former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's alliance with far-right parties gaining a slim majority in the Knesset. Such an outcome would mean the return of Netanyahu, who stepped down last year after 12 years in power.
This election was widely viewed in Israel as a vote for or against the return of Netanyahu. The right-wing bloc he leads is forecast to outpace the centre-left led by current Prime Minister Yair Lapid. Based on the results of processing 97% of the ballots, the bloc will receive 65 seats in the 120-seat Knesset.
"We have received a huge vote of confidence from the people of Israel," Netanyahu told his cheering supporters in Jerusalem. But his main rival, current Prime Minister Yair Lapid, told his supporters in Tel Aviv that "nothing has been decided yet" and that his center party, Yesh Atid, will wait patiently for the final results.
Analysts predict that Yesh Atid will win 24 seats in the Knesset. Netanyahu's Likud will become the largest party, finishing 30th-31st. But to win a parliamentary majority, Netanyahu and his Likud party will have to negotiate support with the ultra-nationalist Religious Zionism party.
Its leaders, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, gained notoriety for using anti-Arab rhetoric and advocating the deportation of "disloyal" Arab politicians or civilians. Ben-Gvir was a follower of the late ultranationalist Meir Kahane, whose organization was designated a terrorist organization by the United States. Ben Gvir himself was convicted of inciting racism and supporting a terrorist organization.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Ben Gvir vowed to "work for all of Israel, even for those who hate me." Religious Zionism is expected to win 14 seats, making it the third largest party in the Knesset.
Netanyahu, 73, is one of Israel's most controversial political figures. He is disliked by many representatives of the centrist and left parties, but grassroots Likud supporters adore him. Netanyahu is a staunch supporter of Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank, occupied after the 1967 Middle East war. International law considers these settlements illegal, although Israel disputes this. In addition, Netanyahu is now on trial on allegations of bribery, fraud and breach of trust, which he denies. His possible coalition government partners have said they will reform the law, putting an end to the litigation.
Many analysts have written off Netanyahu after losing the election in the summer of 2021. However, an alliance of eight very ideologically divergent parties, formed with the sole purpose of keeping him out of power, proved unviable.
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