Netanyahu Set to Become Prime Minister
Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears primed to return to power. Exit polls for the Israeli elections agree that Netaynahu and his allies are expected to gain between 61 and 65 seats, a majority of the 120 seats, in parliament, allowing him to form a right-wing/religious coalition. If his lead holds, Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, will retake the premiership he held for 12 consecutive years and 15 total years. Netanyahu will replace incumbent Prime Minister Yair Lapid, whose diverse coalition defeated Netanyahu’s Likud party last year but fell apart this spring due to infighting.
Netanyahu is a polarizing figure in the eyes of Israelis—a corrupt politician to some and a savior to others. Regardless, his name has been synonymous with Israeli politics for parts of four decades, and his face will be familiar to Israelis as they look to their next government coalition. It will be Netanyahu’s job to keep his coalition intact for a full term—or at least long enough to give voters a breather after taking part in five elections in less than four years.
