Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his religious and far-right allies won the majority of seats in Tuesday’s parliamentary election, the Election Commission announced on Thursday.
The right-wing bloc won 64 of the 120 seats in parliament, split between Netanyahu’s Likud (32), ultra-Orthodox parties (18) and an alliance of far-right forces (14), in what was the fifth vote in four years.
The centrist bloc of now former Prime Minister Yair Lapid won 51 seats.
Accepting his defeat in Israel’s parliamentary elections on Thursday, Lapid congratulated Benjamin Netanyahu on his victory, a statement from the head of government’s office said.
According to the document, Lapid has already instructed the cabinet to prepare for an organized transfer of power.
“The State of Israel is beyond any political consideration. I wish Netanyahu success, in the interest of the people of Israel and the State of Israel,” said the outgoing prime minister.
Lapid, who was interim head of government for four months, decided to announce acceptance of the electoral defeat after a vote count, close to 100%, showed Netanyahu secured the parliamentary majority.
Source: DN
