Netanyahu calls for national government, denounces reliance on Arab lists after preliminary results favor Likud
Benjamin Netanyahu said Likud is leading the elections and that the right-wing bloc holds a 'large' majority; he called for a national government and rejected governments dependent on Arab lists, with preliminary vote counts reported.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Wednesday that the Likud party is leading the general election and that the right-wing camp holds a majority he described as "large and influential" and "decisive," calling for the formation of a strong, united national government.
Responding to the release of vote samples, Netanyahu said Israel is still awaiting the final results which, he said, will confirm Likud's lead, stressing the need to maintain cohesion of what he called the "Zionist and Jewish majority" and to unite its ranks.
Netanyahu warned of what he considered a danger to Israel from forming a government based on Arab lists, which he described as "non-Zionist," accusing some politicians and media outlets of trying to promote and normalize this option.
On the Iranian file, Netanyahu said his government removed an existential threat from Israel and struck the Iranian regime, asserting that Iran has been weakened while Israel has become stronger. He pledged to remove the Iranian threat "forever" in cooperation with U.S. President Donald Trump, but added that the confrontation is not over as long as the Iranian regime remains and that it may again try to destroy Israel.
He also said his government set rules that changed the face of the Middle East and that it established security barriers inside Syria, Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.
The Central Elections Committee announced on Wednesday that 51.8% of votes had been counted, while preliminary results showed Netanyahu's coalition with 55 seats, the Change Alliance with 49 seats, and the Arab parties with 16 seats.
