Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is eyeing a return to power after it appeared he could have won enough seats in Tuesday’s election to form a government coalition with parties on the far Right.
Tuesday’s election is the fifth in just four years, once again pitting the right-wing Netanyahu against the coalition government of incumbent Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who has united left, right, and center parties around their opposition to Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, according to the New York Times.
Though Netanyahu is on trial on corruption charges, his supporters see the trial as politically motivated. His increasing courtship of the far Right, largely consisting of those disillusioned with the growing role of the Arab minority in Lapid’s government, which they fear threatens Israel’s Jewish identity and Jewish settlers in Palestinian territories.
Both Netanyahu and Lapid are projected to fall short of the 120-seat majority needed to form a government, meaning another election may be held in 2023. The final results of the voting may not be known till Wednesday, however.
The United States has signaled its support for whomever the Israeli people choose as the next prime minister.
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“This will be up to the people of Israel to decide the configuration of their next government. No matter the shape of the Israeli coalition and government, our relationship will be strong and enduring,” said State Department spokesman Ned Price, according to NBC News.
