Netanyahu Claims Mandate to Form Right-Wing Government Despite Exit Poll Shortfall

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced early Wednesday morning that he possesses a mandate to form a right-wing government, despite exit polls showing his bloc fell short of a parliamentary majority.

Netanyahu spoke to supporters in Jerusalem, saying he awaited final count results and asserting that his Likud party remains on track to be the largest in the Knesset. He claimed the right-wing bloc holds a "decisive majority" among the "Zionist public," and called on Jewish and Zionist parties to unite behind a strong right-wing government.

Netanyahu attacked what he described as efforts to form a government based on Arab party lists, characterizing them as "anti-Zionist" and opposed to Israel's existence, and warning that such an arrangement would pose a danger to the country.

Updated exit polls revealed an extremely tight picture: Channel 12's adjusted figures gave Netanyahu's bloc 52 seats versus 49 for the opposition led by Gadi Eisenkot, with 19 for Arab parties. By contrast, both the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation and Channel 13 placed the two main blocs at an even 51 seats each, with 18 seats for Arab parties. Neither bloc reached the 61-seat threshold required for a majority in a 120-seat parliament.

Turnout reached 77.7%, the highest since 1999 according to the Central Elections Committee. Vote counting began after polling stations closed at 10 p.m. local time (20:00 GMT) on Tuesday, with exit polls serving as preliminary forecasts rather than official results; official results are expected on November 4.