Israel Election: Netanyahu Bounces Back As Party Clinches Majority Seats

Israeli Prime Minister, Yair Lapid on Thursday conceded defeat by speaking with opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu and congratulated him on his victory in the elections.

Lapid said he instructed all branches of the Prime Minister’s Office to prepare an orderly transfer of power. “The State of Israel is above all political considerations. I wish Netanyahu success for the sake of the people of Israel and the State of Israel,” said Lapid.

Meretz leader Galon: “The election results are a disaster for Meretz, a disaster for the country, and yes, also a personal disaster for me.”

Meretz will not be a member of Israel’s 25th Knesset, according to data from the Central Election Committee after 99.5% of the votes from Tuesday’s election were counted.

Meretz earned 3.14% of the seats, below the electoral threshold of 3.25%. It needed just 3,800 more votes to pass, and its approximately 151,000 votes will not count in the division of seats, leaving the bloc led by Likud leader MK Benjamin Netanyahu with 64 seats and the parties that oppose him with 56 seats.

“This is a very difficult moment for me, and for my friends in Meretz. The election results are a disaster for Meretz, a disaster for the country, and yes, also a personal disaster for me,” Meretz Party leader Zehava Galon said in a video to her supporters after the announcement.

“A few days before the elections, when I already knew that the danger to Meretz was great and tangible, this exact nightmare crossed my mind. Of a Knesset without Meretz.

The final election results were announced on Thursday evening:

Likud – 32

Yesh Atid – 24

Religious Zionist – 14

National Unity – 12

Shas – 11

UTJ – 7

Yisrael Beytenu – 6

Ra’am – 5

Hadash-Ta’al – 5

Labor – 4

The Jerusalem Post