Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu maintains slight edge in election exit polls

Israel’s centrist Prime Minister Yair Lapid had pledged to form a government without Netanyahu, and Yesh Atid’s party was expected to win 23 seats, Khan said. 54 seats, according to the latest exit polls.

About 71.3% of voters turned to the ballot box, according to Israel’s Central Election Commission. This is his highest tally since 2015.

Netanyahu has promised voters that he will form what will be the most right-wing and religious coalition in the country’s history. That includes an alliance of far-right and religious lawmakers proposing tough measures to quell Palestinian unrest in the West Bank and pass legislation that undermines Israeli justice. The coalition’s co-leader is far-right lawmaker Itamar Ben-Gubir, whose Religious Zionist Party won 15 of his seats, making it his third-largest party in the Knesset, according to Kang.

Netanyahu has vowed to make Ben-Gubir a minister if he takes power. Ben-Gvir is requesting control of the Ministry of Public Security, which will give him control over the country’s police force.

Ben-Gvir, who was convicted of inciting racism and aiding a terrorist organization in 2007, has become one of Israel’s best defenders in court for defending Israelis accused of violent attacks against Palestinians. was known. and order campaign. He urges voters to deport those he believes will undermine the Jewish state, to execute terrorists, and to shoot down Arabs who are seen holding stones and Molotov cocktails before being thrown at them by the Israeli military and police. He said he wanted to make Israelis more secure by granting them immunity.

At Ben-Gwir’s election night party in Jerusalem, activists enthusiastically cheered the exit poll results and danced in a circle while waving the blue-and-white Israeli flag.

“It’s like Independence Day,” said Aron Hazon, 47, from Holon, central Israel. “We are ready to take back our country.”

Arab citizens in Israel have expressed their fear of Ben-Gubir. His 19-year-old Liham Abhi Nal, who works at a kindergarten in Jaffa, said he voted for the Arab-led Hadash party to stop Ben-Gubir from coming to power.

“Itamar is really racist,” said Abu Nal, an Israeli Arab citizen. “He’s crazy about Arabs. If he’s in government, our lives will be in danger.”

Ben-Gvir denies being a racist.

The Islamist Raam Party, which broke taboos to join the previous government, won five seats in the Khan poll, while the Arab-led Hadash Thar coalition won four seats.

Netanyahu’s clear parliamentary majority could be lost if the Palestinian nationalist Balad Party crosses the electoral threshold of 3.25% of the total votes cast. According to Kan’s exit poll, Balad has his 3.1% of the total votes cast.

The Israeli public remains divided on whether Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister and who was ousted last year, should return to power. He is loved by many Israelis, many of whom call him “King of Israel”. But he has been unable to lead his Likud party to a decisive victory since his 2015.

“The good and strong governments so far have been led by Bibi,” said Likud voter Abigail Neumann, 28, from Jerusalem’s Rehabia district, referring to Netanyahu’s nickname.

“I’m fed up with the right-wing government led by Netanyahu,” said Dana Renzini, a teacher in Tel Aviv. She voted for Mr. Lapid’s Yeshu Atid party.

Netanyahu’s corruption trial, now more than two years old, has drawn the voices of his opponents in the past, but has not made much headway this election, with prosecutors backing out in court. Still, the trial underscores Netanyahu’s stake in denying wrongdoing. His potential allies say they will pass legislation to keep him from being prosecuted. He denies seeking re-election to avoid a trial.

Mr. Rapid, who heads a secular centrist party that has allies with the right, the left and the Arabs, warns voters that if Mr. Netanyahu and his party leader become president, women, LGBT Israelis, Arabs It warns that all rights of citizens are at risk of being lost. Right wing and religious coalitions come to power. Mr. Rapid argues the election is a choice for Israel’s future as a democracy.

“We know they’ve already declared the end of democracy thousands of times,” Rapid said Wednesday. “But this time it is not a threat.

Aviv Bertele, 42, who runs a Hebrew language school in Tel Aviv, said he voted for the left-wing Meretz party, despite being more right-leaning. Rights of LGBT people and women may be restricted.

“As members of the LGBT community, and as people who consider themselves feminists, we believe we have a duty to defend ourselves against fascist forces like Itamar Ben-Gwir. It’s important for deciding whether to go liberal or become something like Iran or Saudi Arabia.”

The results of the fifth round of voting are likely to be revealed on Wednesday after Israel’s election commission has largely tallied the votes. Under Israeli law, for a political party to join the Knesset he must receive at least 3.25% of the vote. The fragmented nature of Israel’s political landscape means that political parties must form coalitions to secure a parliamentary majority and rule. This process can last for weeks, if not months. Analysts have not ruled out his sixth election.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog plans to pick the leader he believes is most likely to form a ruling coalition in the next few days, usually winning the most seats or competing with his peers. The leader of the party who received the most nominations from lawmakers to form a government. The person has been given six weeks to put together a majority coalition that includes the support of smaller parties.

Write to Dov Lieber at dov.lieber@wsj.com.