ERETZ

A

pparently in Israel, the fifth time is 
the charm. After repeated attempts 
by the opposition, by defectors 
from his own right-wing bloc, by the pros-
ecution and the Supreme Court to prevent 
embattled former Prime Minister Benjamin 
Netanyahu from ruling, the electorate final-
ly ended Israel’s protracted 
political deadlock by voting 
overwhelmingly in favor of 
Netanyahu and his natural — 
and loyal — right-wing allies.
Netanyahu’s bloc will appar-
entlly surge to 64 or more 
seats in the 120-member 
Knesset. The number rep-
resents a stable parliamentary majority. By 
contrast, Israel’s left-wing collapsed to barely 
45 seats — a massive 19-seat gap between 
the right-wing and left-wing blocs. Parties 
comprising the outgoing coalition secured 
only 50 Knesset mandates this time around, 
including an Arab party affiliated with the 
Muslim Brotherhood.
Even if the distribution of mandates shifts 
slightly as the final votes are counted, the 
results are clear: Netanyahu is returning to 
power for a third stretch as head of govern-
ment, after a year in the opposition.
The vote was a national referendum on 

the fitness of Netanyahu — Israel’s lon-
gest-serving prime minister — as the man 
best suited for the top job. It was also a ref-
erendum on the tremendous damage caused 
cycle after election cycle by opposing parlia-
mentarians who conspired to block the peo-
ple’s choice from serving as prime minister.
In a major surprise, turnout was the high-
est in years. Many had said that Israelis were 
growing tired of going to the polls each year 
and might boycott the voting booths. On the 
contrary, Israelis embraced their hyper-de-
mocracy and voted overwhelmingly to 
return stability to the electoral system. And 
the voters proved once again that Israel is a 
traditional, center-right country. 

NETANYAHU’S SUPPORT
Despite all the efforts to oust him, it is now 
clear that Netanyahu has not lost any sup-
port across five consecutive elections. And 
now, the right-wing government he is poised 
to assemble represents the most stable align-
ment he has ever secured. There is virtually 
zero chance that Netanyahu will attempt to 
move toward a so-called unity alignment 
with parties that have tried to prevent him 
from serving as premier. Doing so would 
bring a Trojan horse and the opposition 
directly into his cabinet. Stability depends on 

forming an alliance with parties that actually 
support Netanyahu’s candidacy.
The Religious Zionist Party, and Orthodox 
parties Shas and United Torah Judaism, are 
each expected to recommend Netanyahu as 
prime minister when President Isaac Herzog 
begins consultations with party leaders. 
Netanyahu should have little trouble negoti-
ating coalition agreements and distributing 
cabinet portfolios. With only four parties 
in the coalition, there will be more than 
enough ministries to apportion among the 
ideologically aligned allies.
After securing more than twice as many 
Knesset mandates as any other party in the 
alignment, Netanyahu’s Likud will likely hold 
the most senior cabinet offices, including the 
coveted Defense and Foreign ministry posts.
Having 100% of the cabinet ministries 
headed by members of Israel’s right-wing 
will produce an unprecedented era in the 
state’s history. The outgoing alignment, led 
by alternate prime ministers Naftali Bennett 
and Yair Lapid, brought the left wing from 
the backbenches of the opposition into the 
key government ministries, where many 
introduced progressive agendas that chal-
lenge the fabric of Israel as a traditional 
Jewish state and an emerging regional super-
power.

Despite Efforts 
to Oust Him, 
Vote Affirms 
Netanyahu is
Popular Choice 
for Top Job

Alex Traiman
Columnist
JNS.org

44 | NOVEMBER 10 • 2022 

ANALYSIS/OPINION

Benjamin Netanyahu is 
seen during a morning 
walk the morning after 
the Israeli general 
elections on Nov. 2. 

YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90 VIA JTA

