On September 20, the voting results of Israel’s general election have confirmed a deadlock. According to the results, Benny Gantz's party stands out with maximum votes but without fulfilling the minimum requirement to form a majority coalition. The results revealed by Israel's election committee displays Gantz's centrist Blue and White securing 33 seats out of 120. On the other hand, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing Likud managed to win 31 seats. Little changes are expected before the final results are declared. The results are likely to come out on September 25. 

Results were devoid of 14 polling stations

The deadlock appeared as the results were devoid of 14 polling stations where verification was still going on. According to the Isreali media, only 99.8 per cent of the votes were taken into consideration barring 0.2 per cent. These votes can certainly be the deciding factor for the general elections. The two largest parties were followed by the third-largest party the Arab Joint List alliance which managed to win 13 seats. The Jewish ultra-Orthodox party Shas won only nine seats. Other parties like another Another ultra-Orthodox party, United Torah Judaism won eight seats along with the political party of Ex-Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman's nationalist Yisrael Beitenu

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The turning point in Israel's politics

Netanyahu's position is at risk. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Gantz to unite the parties forming a coalition government with him, but was refused. He acknowledged that the results might shatter his hopes to form a right-wing coalition government. 

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The Unity Government

Taking the stand Gantz said that if a Unity government came into power then he would take the position of Prime Minister since his party Blue and White managed to secure a majority. The Israeli President Reuven Rivlin will soon commence with the consultations among all the parties to decide which party or parties will form the government. The setback to Netanyahu amid elections is due to his politically weak position and the leader is facing criminal indictment in three separate corruption cases. This paved the way for Gantz to emerge as a stronger candidate for Israel’s next leader.

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