Netanyahu claims victory as Likud leads but falls short of clear majority

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told supporters that Israel needs a right-wing government to guarantee its long-term security. He warned against relying on coalitions with Arab parties, describing them as groups opposed to the state's existence. The comments came after polls closed on Tuesday in Israel's legislative election.

Netanyahu spoke at Likud headquarters in West Jerusalem shortly after initial results began to appear. Early counts suggested a tight race. The Times of Israel projected that Netanyahu's bloc would capture 56 seats, while Gadi Eisenkot's alliance would win 49. Neither group has enough seats to form a government on its own.

Likud is expected to win approximately 27 seats, according to projections from Israeli Channels 12 and 13. Eisenkot's Yashar party is projected to take 21 seats. This would make Likud the largest single party in the Knesset. Netanyahu acknowledged this lead but noted that final results were still one or two days away.

The prime minister used the speech to list his achievements since taking office in 2022. He claimed the government worked wonders to change the Middle East's face. He specifically named the elimination of Mohammed Deif, Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar, Hassan Nasrallah, and Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei as major victories.

Netanyahu also cited the establishment of security zones in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria. He stated that these actions removed an immediate existential threat. He described Iran as weaker than ever and Israel as stronger than ever. He called this a historical opportunity with President Donald Trump to remove the Iranian threat once and for all.

Alon Pinkas, a former Israeli ambassador, said the party with the most seats may need to strike an uncomfortable coalition deal to govern. He noted that opposition voters would likely dislike any partnership with Netanyahu's bloc. Marwan Bishara, a senior political analyst, observed that Netanyahu projected a kind of success he did not fully merit.

Bishara pointed out that Likud's projected seat count represents its lowest level since 2009. This reality, he said, is obscured by the party's status as the largest single entity in the parliament. Dan Perry, another political analyst, told Al Jazeera that Netanyahu spun the situation as best he could after exit polls were released.